With two top college football games slated for January, the University of Phoenix Stadium was able to take top honors in TicketNews’ exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, December 5.
The stadium will play host to the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks as they battle it out in this season’s BCS National Championship Game on January 10. It will also host the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day, this year pitting the Big East champion University of Connecticut Huskies against the Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners. The University of Phoenix Stadium is also the home of the Arizona Cardinal of the NFL and power scored a 6.74 this week.
Up two to number two this week was Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX with a power score of 5.37. The stadium is of course home to the Dallas Cowboys, but there is more football in store with January’s Cotton Bowl, where the Texas A&M Aggies will face off against the LSU Tigers. February will bring the NFL’s biggest game to Arlington, Super Bowl XLV is slated to be played at the stadium on February 6.
Madison Square Garden (MSG) came in third in the rankings this week, dropping from the leader position it had held for the previous four weeks. MSG has two popular sports teams in seasonal play, the New York Knicks of the NBA and the New York Rangers of the NHL.
In concerts, MSG will host the likes of Usher, Lady Gaga and Bon Jovi in the coming weeks. Cirque Du Soleil’s Wintuk, currently playing at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, made it to number five in this week’s Top Broadway Events rankings and number nine in Top Theater. MSG power scored a 3.41 this week.
After a one week hiatus, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, made its way back into the top ten, landing at number four and power scoring a 2.99. The stadium seems to be enjoying more robust ticket sales as its 10-2 New England Patriots continue to perform well (currently sitting atop the AFC East) with a playoff berth looking likely. Patriots’ ticket sales this week took the team to number six in this week’s Top Sports rankings.
Gillette’s numbers also likely benefit from ticket sales for Taylor Swift, who plays two dates in June, and for Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band, who take the stage in August.
Making a big move this week was the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, which jumped four spots to take number five. Power scoring a 2.62, Air Canada is home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. The Centre’s roster of musical talent for the upcoming months includes seasonal favorites the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in December as well as Bon Jovi in February, Lady Gaga in March, and Taylor Swift for two shows in July.
The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, gained one this week, making it the sixth best selling venue in the rankings. Staples is home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, as well as the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. In upcoming concerts, Staples has Andrea Bocelli performing later this week, and Lady Gaga in March. The Staples Center ended the week with a power score of 2.38.
Dropping four to land at number seven this week was Radio City Music Hall. With a power score of 2.24, the venue hits a selling high each holiday season due to its wildly popular Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a production which captured the number one spot in this week’s Top Broadway rankings and number two in the Top Theater category.
The TD Garden (Fleet Center) in Boston, MA dropped two this week, sitting in the number eight spot. Power scoring a 1.97, the Garden is home to the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Bruins. Top selling musical artists scheduled to perform at the venue include Usher and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra later this month, and Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga in March. March also sees a run of Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3, which took number ten in this week’s Top Theater rankings.
Losing a bit of ground this week was the Gershwin Theatre, which fell four slots to finish at number nine. Although found more often in the lower half of the top ten than in recent weeks, the Gershwin still turns in a solid performance week after week on strong sales for its long-running hit musical Wicked, which led this week’s Top Theater rankings and placed second on the Top Broadway list. The Gershwin power scored a 1.57 this week.
The Georgia Dome fell two spots this week to take the number ten. Power scoring a 1.51, the home to NFC South leading Atlanta Falcons, also benefited from sales for the December 4 2010 SEC Championship between the Auburn Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks.
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 | University Of Phoenix Stadium Tickets | 6.74 |
| 2 | Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets | 5.37 |
| 3 | Madison Square Garden Tickets | 3.41 |
| 4 | Gillette Stadium Tickets | 2.99 |
| 5 | Air Canada Centre Tickets | 2.62 |
| 6 | Staples Center Tickets | 2.38 |
| 7 | Radio City Music Hall Tickets | 2.24 |
| 8 | TD Garden (Fleet Center) Tickets | 1.97 |
| 9 | Gershwin Theatre Tickets | 1.57 |
| 10 | Georgia Dome Tickets | 1.51 |
| 11 | HP Pavilion Tickets | 1.40 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City Arena (formerly Ford Center) Tickets | 1.30 |
| 13 | United Center Tickets | 1.22 |
| 14 | Philips Arena Tickets | 1.15 |
| 15 | Wells Fargo Center – PA (formerly Wachovia Center) Tickets | 1.14 |
| 16 | Heinz Field Tickets | 1.12 |
| 17 | Cadillac Palace Tickets | 1.10 |
| 18 | Arco Arena Tickets | 1.02 |
| 19 | Foxwoods Theater (formerly Hilton Theater) – Ford Center for Performing Arts – NY Tickets | 1.02 |
| 20 | Bridgestone Arena (Formerly Sommet Center) Tickets | 0.91 |
