I Compared Rush Concert Ticket Prices on 5 Resale Sites - Here's Why Gametime Might Save Canadians the Most Money
I compared Rush concert ticket prices across Gametime, SeatGeek, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Ticketmaster Resale. Gametime came out $168-$371 cheaper because they don't charge a separate tax line for Canadian buyers. Here's the full breakdown.
Buying tickets on secondary marketplaces like Gametime, SeatGeek, StubHub, Vivid Seats, or Ticketmaster Resale can be a confusing experience for Canadians. Fees pile up, currency conversion adds complexity, and then there's the question of taxes.
After spending hours comparing identical seats across all five major resale platforms, I discovered something that could save you serious money: Gametime often comes out significantly cheaper because it doesn't appear to add a separate tax charge for Canadian buyers.
Here's exactly what I found.
The Test: Rush Concert, Scotiabank Arena, August 7, 2026
To make this comparison fair, I searched for nearly identical seats to the upcoming Rush "Fifty Something" reunion tour at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. I focused on Section 324 (balcony level) across all platforms, selecting 2 tickets with an Ontario billing address.
The goal was to see the actual all-in price each platform would charge a Canadian buyer, including all fees, service charges, and taxes.
The Results: All-In Prices for 2 Tickets (CAD)
| Platform | Section & Row | All-In Price (2 Tickets) | Tax Displayed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gametime | Sec 324, Row 10 | $1,036 CAD* | No separate tax line |
| StubHub | Sec 324, Row 10 | $1,204 CAD | Included in price |
| Ticketmaster Resale | Sec 324, Row 10 | $1,207 CAD | Included (fees + taxes) |
| Vivid Seats | Sec 324, Row 12 | $1,404 CAD | ~$156 tax added at checkout |
| SeatGeek | Sec 305, Row 4 | $1,407 CAD | $162 tax shown separately |
*Gametime price converted from $740 USD at 1.40 CAD exchange rate (Nov 28, 2025)
The Gametime Difference: $168-$371 Cheaper
The numbers speak for themselves. For essentially the same seats to the same concert, Gametime's all-in price was:
- $168 cheaper than StubHub
- $171 cheaper than Ticketmaster Resale
- $368 cheaper than Vivid Seats
- $371 cheaper than SeatGeek
That's a significant difference when you're already spending over $1,000 on concert tickets.
Why Is Gametime Cheaper?
The key difference is how each platform handles Canadian sales tax (HST/GST).
Most platforms either add Ontario's 13% HST as a separate line at checkout (like SeatGeek and Vivid Seats) or build it into their "all-in" pricing (like StubHub and Ticketmaster Resale).
Gametime, however, shows "Includes Fees" on their listings and doesn't display a separate tax line during checkout. Their all-in pricing model appears to result in a lower final total for Canadian buyers.
Whether Gametime is handling taxes differently on the backend, including them in their fee structure, or operating under different tax arrangements is unclear. But from a consumer perspective, the bottom line is clear: the total you pay is less.
Important Considerations for Canadian Buyers
Currency: Gametime displays prices in USD, so you'll see $370 USD per ticket rather than CAD. Your credit card will handle the conversion, and you may face foreign transaction fees (typically 2.5%). Even factoring this in, Gametime remained the cheapest option in my testing.
Exchange Rate Fluctuations: The USD/CAD rate changes daily. At the time of writing, $1 USD = approximately $1.40 CAD. If the Canadian dollar strengthens, Gametime becomes an even better deal.
Seat Availability: Not all platforms have the same inventory. Gametime had Section 324, Row 10 available; SeatGeek's closest comparable seats were in Section 305.
How Each Platform Breaks Down Their Pricing
Gametime: Lists prices as "Includes Fees" in USD. Clean, simple checkout with no surprise tax line added for Canadian addresses. Total shown is what you pay (plus any credit card FX fees).
StubHub: Shows prices in CAD with "incl. fees" notation. The all-in price includes taxes and fees bundled together. Transparent but not itemized.
Ticketmaster Resale: Displays itemized breakdown showing ticket price + fees + taxes combined. Shows "Verified Resale Ticket" designation. Prices in CAD.
Vivid Seats: Advertises "Fees Incl." but adds "Tax & Delivery" as a separate line at checkout. For Ontario, this added approximately $78 per ticket (13% HST).
SeatGeek: Most transparent breakdown, showing Tickets + Fees + Tax as separate line items. Tax for Ontario showed as $162 on a ~$1,245 subtotal.
The Bottom Line: Always Compare Before You Buy
The lesson here isn't that one platform is universally better. It's that prices vary significantly across platforms, and the way taxes are handled can make a huge difference for Canadian buyers.
For this Rush concert comparison:
- Gametime was the clear winner at ~$1,036 CAD
- StubHub and Ticketmaster Resale were mid-range around $1,200 CAD
- Vivid Seats and SeatGeek were most expensive at ~$1,400 CAD
Before your next concert or sports event purchase, take five minutes to check the same seats across multiple platforms. Go all the way to checkout (without purchasing) to see the true all-in price. For expensive tickets, this simple step could save you $100-$300 or more.
Prices were checked on November 28, 2025 for Rush at Scotiabank Arena on August 7, 2026. Prices fluctuate based on demand, and available inventory varies by platform. Always verify current pricing before purchasing.Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gametime charge tax to Canadian buyers?
Based on my testing, Gametime does not display a separate tax line at checkout for Canadian buyers. Their pricing shows "Includes Fees" and the total you see is what you pay. This is different from platforms like SeatGeek and Vivid Seats, which add Ontario's 13% HST as a separate line item. Whether taxes are handled on the backend or structured differently is unclear, but the net result is a lower total price for Canadian consumers.
Is Gametime legit and safe for Canadians?
Yes, Gametime is a legitimate ticket resale platform founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco. They offer a buyer guarantee and have sold millions of tickets. The main considerations for Canadian buyers are: 1) prices are displayed in USD, so you'll need to factor in currency conversion, and 2) your credit card may charge foreign transaction fees (typically 2.5%). Despite these factors, Gametime still came out cheapest in my comparison.
Why are resale ticket prices different on each platform?
Resale ticket prices vary for several reasons: different seller fees charged by each platform, varying service fee structures, how taxes are calculated and displayed, the specific inventory each platform has access to, and dynamic pricing based on demand. This is exactly why comparing the same seats across multiple platforms before purchasing is so important.
Do I have to pay HST on concert tickets in Ontario?
Yes, Ontario's 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) generally applies to entertainment tickets, including concert tickets. However, how this tax is displayed and collected varies by platform. Some platforms like SeatGeek show it as a separate line item, others like StubHub bundle it into their all-in pricing, and platforms like Gametime may handle it differently in their fee structure.
What's the best site to buy resale tickets in Canada?
There's no single "best" site - it depends on the specific event and timing. In my Rush concert comparison, Gametime was $168-$371 cheaper than competitors. However, inventory varies by platform, and prices change constantly based on demand. The best strategy is to check multiple platforms (Gametime, StubHub, Ticketmaster Resale, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek) and compare the all-in prices for identical or similar seats before purchasing.
How do I avoid paying too much for resale tickets?
- Compare multiple platforms - Check at least 3-4 resale sites for the same seats
- Go to checkout - Don't trust the listed price; go all the way to checkout to see the true total including fees and taxes
- Consider Gametime - Their pricing model often results in lower totals for Canadian buyers
- Watch currency - If buying from USD-priced platforms, monitor the exchange rate
- Buy early or late - Prices often drop significantly in the final hours before an event
- Check Ticketmaster first - Sometimes verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster are competitively priced and you avoid separate platform fees
Are StubHub prices in Canadian dollars?
Yes, StubHub Canada (stubhub.ca) displays prices in Canadian dollars (CAD) for Canadian users. Their prices include fees and are shown as "incl. fees," making it easier to understand the total cost without currency conversion concerns.
What's the difference between Ticketmaster resale and other platforms?
Ticketmaster Resale (also called "Verified Resale") sells tickets that were originally purchased through Ticketmaster and are being resold by other fans. The advantage is convenience (everything stays within Ticketmaster) and verification that tickets are legitimate. However, as my comparison showed, Ticketmaster Resale isn't always the cheapest option. Their prices for the Rush concert were $171 more than Gametime for the same seats.
Should I buy tickets in USD or CAD?
If given the choice, buying in CAD eliminates exchange rate uncertainty and potential foreign transaction fees. However, if a USD platform like Gametime offers significantly lower prices (as it did in my testing), the savings can outweigh the 2-3% in conversion costs. Always calculate the full CAD equivalent before deciding.
When is the best time to buy resale tickets?
Resale ticket prices typically follow this pattern:
- Highest: When tickets first sell out or for high-demand events
- Gradual decline: As the event date approaches and sellers become more motivated
- Lowest: Often in the final 24-48 hours before an event (but riskier for popular shows)
- Exception: Prices can spike again right before sold-out events
For the Rush 2026 tour, prices will likely fluctuate as the concert date approaches, so it pays to monitor prices over time.
