Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX made a resurgence this week as it once again took number one in TicketNews’s exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, August 16. The Stadium, home to the popular Dallas Cowboys, (at number three in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings), is scheduled also to host a game between the Texas Longhorns (at number five in Top Sports this week) and the North Carolina Tar Heels in December. Surely boosting the numbers this week is an appearance by Paul McCartney set for later this week and an upcoming date for U2 (at number four in TicketNews’s Top Concert Events) in October. Dallas Cowboys Stadium finished the week with a power score of 3.14.
Ticket sales for the long running hit musical Wicked kept the Gershwin Theatre in New York City strong in the rankings this week, up three to the number two position. With a power score of 2.67, the Gershwin benefits from the show’s ability to bring in impressive receipts, and this week found Wicked once again dominating TicketNews’s Top Broadway Events, Top Theater Events, and Top Combined Events rankings.
This week, the new Yankee Stadium fell from last week’s leader position to the number three spot. Power scoring a 2.12, the stadium saw continued robust sales for AL East leaders the New York Yankees, who for the third straight week took the number one spot in Top Sports Events.
Giants Stadium in Rutherford, NJ performed well this week, up three spots to number four. The stadium, due to shut its gates at the end of the 2009 NFL season, is, until then, home to two popular area NFL teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets, currently in preseason play. The stadium’s final roster of musical acts is a strong one, with U2 playing two dates in September and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band there for five dates in late September and early October. Giants Stadium power scored a 1.98 this week.
Madison Square Garden (MSG) dropped three to take the number five spot this week. The home to the New York Rangers and New York Knicks will see a number of top musical acts in the coming months, including an August date from Taylor Smith and Kellie Pickler, who led the Top Concert Events rankings this week, and two November shows from Bruce Springsteen. MSG had a power score of 1.97 this week.
Next in the rankings is Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Power scoring a 1.75, the stadium is home to the New England Patriots, at number eight in this week’s Top Sports, and also will see two September dates on U2’s well-attended tour. The Target Center in Minneapolis, MN made its debut this week in the number seven spot, power scoring a 1.65. The home to the Minnesota Timberwolves also has a number of top acts in its summer and fall rosters, including the Kings of Leon in September, and the So You Think You Can Dance (at number four in Top Theater Events) tour in October.
Fenway Park fell hard this week, down four spots to number eight. Fenway’s Boston Red Sox, the AL East’s number two team, had sales strong enough to hold their second place finish in this week’s Top Sports rankings as well. Fenway power scored a 1.61 this week.
Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA remained in the top ten this week, moving up one to finish at number nine. With a power score of 1.50, Heinz Field is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose ticket sales this week boosted them to number four in this week’s Top Sports Events.
TheArthur Ashe Stadium in Corona, NY made a return to the top ten this week, coming in at number ten and power scoring a 1.21. Moving the stadium’s numbers this week are strong ticket sales for the popular US Open Tennis Championship, which runs from late August to mid September.
With the advent of the NFL preseason, football stadiums, whether hosting summer concerts or not, are growing in number in the top venue rankings. The Gershwin was the sole theater venue to remain in the top ten this week.
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.
| Venue | Score | |
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets | 3.14 |
| 2 | Gershwin Theatre Tickets | 2.67 |
| 3 | New Yankee Stadium Tickets | 2.12 |
| 4 | Giants Stadium Tickets | 1.98 |
| 5 | Madison Square Garden Tickets | 1.97 |
| 6 | Gillette Stadium Tickets | 1.75 |
| 7 | Target Center Tickets | 1.65 |
| 8 | Fenway Park Tickets | 1.61 |
| 9 | Heinz Field Tickets | 1.50 |
| 10 | Arthur Ashe Stadium Tickets | 1.21 |
| 11 | Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.20 |
| 12 | Imperial Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.19 |
| 13 | Ohio Stadium Tickets | 1.13 |
| 14 | Orpheum Theatre – San Francisco Tickets | 1.13 |
| 15 | Georgia Dome Tickets | 1.07 |
| 16 | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Tickets | 0.99 |
| 17 | Wrigley Field Tickets | 0.87 |
| 18 | Caesars Palace Colosseum Tickets | 0.86 |
| 19 | Lambeau Field Tickets | 0.85 |
| 20 | Invesco Field At Mile High Tickets | 0.83 |