Industry News

Cubs thrashing led to record refund from GameHedge

Ticketing marketplace GameHedge has revealed that it refunded a record $3,300 through its Good Game Guarantee to Chicago Cubs fans who watched their team blitzed by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth match of this year’s World Series.

The firm which launched earlier this year returns 50% of the ticket price paid to home fans who watch their team lose by a certain amount. The mark is 17 points for NFL games, 20 points for NBA games, five runs for MLB games and four goals for NHL games.

The company, which estimates that around one in eight games qualifies for the refund, told the TechCrunch news website that its largest payout to date came when the Cubs lost 7-2 at home to the Indians on October 30. GameHedge partners with a sports insurance company to protect itself against refunds.

Warren Friss, the company’s founder, told the USA Today newspaper that the idea for Good Game Guarantee was triggered by watching his beloved New York Mets suffer a home battering at the hands of the Washington Nationals.

“I’m a huge sports fan, go to many games, and I’ve been thinking the last couple of years that fans should really get something back when things don’t go their way,’’ he told USA Today. “So I want to give something back if the fans have a bad experience.

“I went to the Mets and Nationals game this year, and the Mets were losing 9-1 in the third inning. You’re walking out of the stadium after spending big money, and all you hear is, ‘Thanks for coming. Drive safely. See you tomorrow.’ It just felt so empty.’’

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