This week’s top ticket seller, according to TicketNews’s weekly events rankings for the week ending March 8 2009, is Wicked with a 5.49 power score, although Britney Spears tickets are still selling strong. The pop star’s Circus tour follows close behind with a 4.56 power score. Leonard Cohen leaps from number seven to number three (4.01), pulling ahead of Elton John & Billy Joel who, after holding on to the number one spot in these rankings for three weeks fell, to number four (2.98).

New to the rankings, at number five (2.94), is No Doubt, whose spring/summer 2009 tour kicks off on May 3 in New Jersey. Taylor Swift is at number six (2.06). Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood were at number three but in these rankings they’re in at number seven (1.96), while Kenny Chesney moves up a spot to number eight (1.81). Def Leppard are embarking on a tour this summer with Poison and Cheap Trick, and ticket sales for that event were good enough to give the hard rockers the number nine spot (1.78). Taylor Swift & Kellie Pickler’s joint show is popular enough with ticket buyers for number ten (1.74).

The Top Concert Events top ten is nearly identical to the overall top ten, with the exception of “Wicked” and the addition of Nickelback at number ten, power score 2.78.

The top selling sports event/team for the week ending March 9 is the Boston Red Sox with a 3.91 power score. WWE holds on to number two with a 3.90 power score. The New York Yankees, which were number one in last week’s rankings, are now at number three (3.61). The Los Angeles Lakers stay at number four (2.57) and the Boston Celtics move up to number five (2.33), while the Cleveland Cavaliers enter the rankings at number six (2.25). New to the sports rankings: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Samsung 500 (number seven, 2.01). The Chicago Cubs (number eight, 1.96) pull ahead of the New York Knicks (number nine, 1.95). The AMA Supercross is number ten, power sore 1.89).



“Wicked” is still number one in the Top Theater Events rankings with a 38.82 power score. Jersey Boys stay at number two (12.13) and South Pacific stays at number three (6.14). Billy Elliot moves up to number four (5.45) from number six and Lion King holds on to the number five spot (4.03). Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America – A Final Night With George W Bush is at number six (3.34). Dirty Dancing ranks at number seven (2.70) with better sales than Phantom of the Opera (number eight, 2.45) and Grease (number nine, 1.98). Rent closes out the theater top ten (1.44).

TFL and ATBS for ticketing professionals

The Wicked-Jersey Boys-South Pacific trifecta also reigns supreme on Broadway. Some shows that are popular on the Great White Way: West Side Story (number seven, 2.65) and Mamma Mia! (number eight, 2.17). Broadway exclusive The Wizard of Oz is in at number nine (1.99). New to the Broadway rankings is Guys & Dolls at number ten, power score 1.22.

In the Vegas rankings, Cher takes back number one (37.17) from Bette Midler (number two, 33.29). Cirque du Soleil – O is at number three (7.84) and Elton John the Red Piano is at number four (3.88). Criss Angel: Believe moves up from number nine to number five (3.69) and Donny & Marie Osmond also make an impressive move up to number six (3.69) from number eight. Danny Gans slips to number seven (1.69) when last week he was at number three. Cirque du Soleil – Mystère reenters the rankings at number eight (1.52). Jersey Boys is also in Vegas and they rank at number nine (1.31). At number ten: Phantom the Las Vegas Spectacular (1.01).

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

Top Combined Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Wicked Tickets 5.49
2 Britney Spears Tickets 4.56
3 Leonard Cohen Tickets 4.01
4 Elton John & Billy Joel Tickets 2.98
5 No Doubt Tickets 2.94
6 Taylor Swift Tickets 2.06
7 Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Tickets 1.96
8 Kenny Chesney Tickets 1.81
9 Def Leppard Tickets 1.78
10 Taylor Swift & Kellie Pickler Tickets 1.74

Top Concert Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Wicked Tickets 5.49
2 Britney Spears Tickets 4.56
3 Leonard Cohen Tickets 4.01
4 Elton John & Billy Joel Tickets 2.98
5 No Doubt Tickets 2.94
6 Taylor Swift Tickets 2.06
7 Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Tickets 1.96
8 Kenny Chesney Tickets 1.81
9 Def Leppard Tickets 1.78
10 Taylor Swift & Kellie Pickler Tickets 1.74

Top Sports Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Boston Red Sox Tickets 3.91
2 WWE Tickets 3.90
3 New York Yankees Tickets 3.61
4 Los Angeles Lakers Tickets 2.57
5 Boston Celtics Tickets 2.33
6 Cleveland Cavaliers Tickets 2.25
7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Samsung 500 Tickets 2.01
8 Chicago Cubs Tickets 1.96
9 New York Knicks Tickets 1.95
10 AMA Supercross Tickets 1.89
     

Top Theater Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Wicked Tickets 38.82
2 Jersey Boys Tickets 12.13
3 South Pacific Tickets 6.14
4 Billy Elliot Tickets 5.45
5 Lion King Tickets 4.03
6 Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America – A Final Night With George W Bush Tickets 3.34
7 Dirty Dancing Tickets 2.70
8 Phantom Of The Opera Tickets 2.45
9 Grease Tickets 1.98
10 Rent Tickets 1.44

Top Broadway Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Wicked Tickets 34.14
2 Jersey Boys Tickets 13.49
3 South Pacific Tickets 11.76
4 Billy Elliot Tickets 10.44
5 Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America – A Final Night With George W Bush Tickets 6.40
6 Lion King Tickets 4.55
7 West Side Story Tickets 2.65
8 Mamma Mia! Tickets 2.17
9 The Wizard of Oz Tickets 1.99
10 Guys & Dolls Tickets 1.22

Top Vegas Events

Week Ending 03/08/2009

      Event Score
1 Cher Tickets 36.34
2 Bette Midler Tickets 19.51
3 Cirque Du Soleil – O Tickets 12.28
4 Elton John the Red Piano Tickets 8.81
5 Criss Angel: Believe Tickets 5.18
6 Donny & Marie Osmond Tickets 2.83
7 Danny Gans Tickets 1.84
8 Cirque Du Soleil – Mystere Tickets 1.55
9 Jersey Boys Tickets 1.37
10 Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular Tickets 1.33