After a four week hiatus, Fenway Park in Boston, MA returns to claim the title of the nation’s number one venue, according to TicketNews’s exclusive rankings for the week ending Sunday, May 24. The park moves up one this week to take the top spot, power scoring a big 3.62. Fenway’s own Boston Red Sox keep ticket sales rock solid and also regain the lead position in TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings this week. Also helping boost Fenway’s total are the sales of tickets to Dave Matthews Band’s two scheduled appearances later this week, May 29-30. Next, the new Yankee Stadium follows closely behind Fenway, coming in at number two and power scoring a 3.26. New York Yankees ticket sales also remain strong, putting the team right behind the Red Sox at number two in this week’s Top Sports Events ranking.

The Pepsi Center in Denver, CO falls from last week’s top spot to number three this week. The home court for the Denver Nuggets benefits from sales for the team’s Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in a series that ranks at numbers three (Nuggets) and five (Lakers) in this week’s rankings. The Nuggets evened the series at 2-2 Monday night at the Center, with game five scheduled for tonight at the Lakers’s home, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. In performances, the Pepsi Center has the Jonas Brothers in June and a blockbuster August with concerts by Green Day, AC/DC and the American Idols Live tour, with all four acts making the Top Concert Events top ten this week. The Pepsi Center power scores a 3.22.

The excitement caused by the Nuggets-Lakers finals boosts the Staples Center back into the top five for the first time since late March. The home of the Los Angeles Lakers, like its counterpart in Denver, is enjoying brisk ticket sales for its own team’s home games in the Western Conference finals. Also helping to fuel the Staples rise this week are a number of summer concert dates by popular artists, including the American Idols Live tour, the Jonas Brothers, and Aerosmith with ZZ Top. The Staples Center has a power score of 3.00 this week.

The Amway Center in Orlando, FL makes a big move into the top ten this week, landing at number five with a power score of 2.58. The Amway Center can thank strong ticket sales for its own Orlando Magic as the team takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Eastern Conference finals. In a series which hits at numbers four (Magic) and seven (Cavs) in Top Sports Events this week, the Magic dominate the Cavs 3-1 after a win at home Tuesday night. Game five is set for Thursday at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. Also boosting the Amway Center’s numbers is an appearance by Green Day in August.

The Gershwin Theatre continues to drop this week, falling two slots to the number six position. Power scoring a 2.42, the Gershwin maintains its top ten placement on still robust ticket sales for the hit musical, Wicked, which leads this week’s Top Broadway Events and Top Theater Events.

The American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX debuts this week at number seven. With a power score of 2.11, the Center is scheduled to host top summer acts such as Andrea Bocelli in June, the American Idols Live tour in July and Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler, at number two in Top Concert Events, in September. Moving up two to number eight this week is Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. Wrigley is home to the Chicago Cubs, which have been solid in the top ten of the Top Sports Events ranking until getting shut out this week by the NBA and NHL playoffs. Wrigley also will host perennial favorites Elton John and Billy Joel on their Face 2 Face tour for two dates in July. Wrigley power scores a 1.66 this week.

Enthusiastic Cavaliers fans bring Quicken Loans Arena into the top ten this week, finishing at number nine. The home to the Cavs, which trail the Magic 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals, will host game five of the series on Thursday. In concerts, the Arena will see dates by the Jonas Brothers in August and Taylor Swift with Kellie Pickler in October. The Quicken Loans Arena power scores a 1.55 this week. Finally, the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, CA, hangs tough in the number ten spot this week, dropping down two from last week. The Orpheum benefits from continued robust ticket sales for its current production of the hit musical “Wicked.” The Orpheum power scores a 1.48 this week.

NBA playoff venues take over the list this week, with baseball stadiums and outdoor arenas following closely behind. The Gershwin and the Orpheum remain the only two theaters in the top ten. As the NBA and NHL finish their playoff season and baseball and summer concert season heats up, look for even more outdoor venues to make the list.

TicketNews Exclusive Rankings and Power Scores are based on ticket sales for venues from the TicketNetwork Exchange™, the world’s largest secondary market exchange. A Power Score illustrates a given venue’s category-specific significance. Two factors are used to calculate a power score: total ticket sales for a venue, and total ticket sales within the category. As such, power scores should only be used to compare venues within a particular category.

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Top Venues

Week Ending 05/24/2009

      Venue Score
1 Fenway Park Tickets 3.62
2 New Yankee Stadium Tickets 3.26
3 Pepsi Center Tickets 3.22
4 Staples Center Tickets 3.00
5 Amway Arena Tickets 2.58
6 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 2.42
7 American Airlines Center Tickets 2.11
8 Wrigley Field Tickets 1.66
9 Quicken Loans Arena Tickets 1.55
10 Orpheum Theatre San Francisco Tickets 1.48
11 Wachovia Center Tickets 1.47
12 Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets 1.42
13 United Center Tickets 1.41
14 MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets 1.39
15 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Tickets 1.28
16 Izod Center Tickets 1.26
17 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets 0.93
18 Imperial Theatre – NY Tickets 0.82
19 Soldier Field Stadium Tickets 0.79
20 Palace Theatre New York City Tickets 0.76