Yes, Gametime is a real company: Gametime United, Inc., founded by CEO Brad Griffith, runs the last-minute ticket app and publishes a written guarantee covering delivery and valid entry. The catch is that its own policy says all sales are final. Apart from cancelled events, you won't get a refund once you've bought.
Buying tickets an hour before the first whistle feels slightly risky, so I understand why people search for this one. I've read Gametime's own pages on who runs it and what its guarantee covers. Below is what the company says in writing, what that means for you, and how to avoid fake tickets using its name.
Who is behind Gametime
The About page names the company as Gametime United, Inc., with Brad Griffith as CEO and Founder. The page tells the origin story: in 2012 Griffith nearly missed a San Francisco Giants game while printing last-minute tickets at a sports bar, and he then founded Gametime to find a faster way in.
According to Wikipedia, Gametime is privately held and headquartered in San Francisco, California. Its investors have included Accel Partners, GV and StartX, and in 2017 it signed a ticketing agreement with Ticketmaster. None of that is a safety certificate, but it does show a named US company with a long public history rather than a faceless website.
How buying on the Gametime app works
Gametime describes itself as mobile-first, which means your tickets live on your phone and don't need to be printed. It also says it shows full pricing up front with All-In Pricing toggled on, so look at that setting before you compare totals with another site.
TechCrunch reported in 2019 that Gametime's LastCall feature lets people buy tickets until 90 minutes after an event has started. That feature may have changed since then, so treat it as background rather than a promise. The guarantee page also describes sellers being paid out when their tickets sell, which tells you tickets can come from sellers using the platform, not only from the team or venue.
What the Gametime Guarantee covers
The guarantee is the heart of the legit question, so here is what the page says, in plain terms:
- Delivery and entry: Gametime says it guarantees your tickets will be delivered in time for the event and will be valid for entry, and that its team will make it right if there's an issue.
- Cancelled events: if your event is cancelled and not rescheduled, you automatically receive a full refund to your original method of payment, which Gametime says takes 5 to 7 business days on average. Any Gametime credit you used comes back immediately.
- Price match: if you find a lower price elsewhere, Gametime gives 110% of the difference as credit. Claims must be made within two hours of purchase, and the credit can be up to 200 US dollars.
- Job loss: Gametime says it will refund your purchase if you lose your job, but you must claim at least 72 hours before the event and give valid state or federal unemployment forms. The company says validity is at its sole discretion.
The page also says exclusions apply and that Gametime can change the guarantee at any time, so read the current version before you buy a big-ticket seat.
Refunds: the catch with Gametime
This is the part many buyers miss. Gametime's guarantee page states that all sales are final. Except for cancelled events, you won't receive a refund for completed purchases, and you can't change or cancel an order after the sale is complete.
In other words, a change of plans, a sick child or a lost invitation won't get your money back unless one of the listed guarantees applies. Before you tap buy, check the date, the section and the number of tickets twice.
| What I checked | What Gametime's own pages say |
|---|---|
| Who runs it? | Gametime United, Inc., CEO and Founder Brad Griffith |
| Where is it based? | San Francisco, California, according to Wikipedia |
| Can I get a refund if I change my mind? | No, all sales are final apart from cancelled events |
| Cancelled event | Full refund to original payment method, 5 to 7 business days on average |
| Delivery and entry | Covered by the guarantee: on time and valid for entry |
| Job loss claim | At least 72 hours before the event, with unemployment forms |
Buying Gametime tickets in Canada
Gametime's guarantee page has a separate section for Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. For events there, it says a full refund is provided if the event is cancelled before the ticket can be used, the ticket doesn't grant admission, the ticket is counterfeit or the ticket doesn't match its description. If you live in those provinces, read that section on Gametime's guarantee page rather than relying on the US summary above.
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Fake Gametime tickets and impersonators
Ticket scams usually happen outside the platform. Fraudsters copy a well-known brand name, offer a stranger's screenshot of a ticket and then ask for payment in a way you can't reverse.
- Buy inside the official app or on the official website, and type the address yourself.
- Never pay a stranger by bank transfer or gift card, even if they say they work for Gametime.
- Be suspicious of anyone who messages you first offering tickets for a sold-out show.
- Don't share verification codes or card details with someone claiming to be Gametime support.
- Use the contact details inside your account when you need help, not numbers from social posts.
Before you trust any seller, read the reviews, but remember they can be faked. My guides on spotting a fake product review and the review sites shoppers use will help you weigh what you see.
My verdict on Gametime
It's a legit, named US company with a written guarantee, and it's built for people who decide late. It isn't built for people who might change their minds. I'd treat every purchase as final, read the guarantee page for your event, and keep all your messages with Gametime in case you need to make a claim.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Gametime?
Gametime's About page names the company as Gametime United, Inc., with Brad Griffith as CEO and Founder. Wikipedia describes it as privately held and based in San Francisco.
Does Gametime give refunds?
Its guarantee page says all sales are final. The exception is a cancelled event that isn't rescheduled, which gets a full refund to the original payment method.
What is the Gametime Guarantee?
Gametime says it guarantees tickets arrive in time for the event and are valid for entry, and it lists protection for cancelled events, lower prices found elsewhere and job loss.
How long does a cancelled event refund take?
Gametime says refunds for cancelled events take 5 to 7 business days on average, and Gametime credit you used is returned immediately.
How do I avoid fake tickets?
Buy inside the official app or website, never pay a stranger by bank transfer or gift card, and ignore unsolicited offers for sold-out events.
