TicketNews has released its exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, April 5, and Ford Field takes hold of the number one position this week. On April 6, Ford Field played host to the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship game between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels (game won by the Tar Heels), and Michigan ticket sales this week propelled the event to number three on TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings. The venue also has an August date scheduled for the popular Kenny Chesney tour, currently at number seven in our Top Concert Events rankings. Ford Field power scores a 2.78 this week.

The new Yankee Stadium hangs on to its second place perch this week. With a power score of 2.61, the stadium is gearing up for its New York Yankees’s home opener against the Cleveland Indians on April 16. The home team hits at number one for the third straight week in TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings. The Gershwin Theatre moves up one to take the number three spot this week. Power scoring a 2.58, the home of the Broadway hit musical Wicked benefits from strong ticket sales for the show week after week.

Giants Stadium rolls in to the top ten again, returning at the number four position. The stadium is scheduled to host AC/DC in July as well as two September dates for the wildly popular U2 tour, which continues to break concert sales records and which dominates both TicketNews’s Top Concert Events and Top Events rankings. Giants Stadium power scores a 2.34.

Back on the list after a five week hiatus is Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. At number five and power scoring a 2.06 this week, the venue will see a number of top tours this summer, including those of AC/DC as well as Elton John and Billy Joel in July, Kenny Chesney in August, and two dates with U2 in September.

Madison Square Garden (MSG) shows some movement this week, jumping up three to take the number six position on our list. MSG is home to the playoff bound New York Rangers hockey team and to the legendary New York Knicks, out of NBA playoff contention but still strong in ticket sales. MSG also has a “who’s who” of top artists playing this season, including the Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, Andrea Bocelli, and Taylor Swift with Kellie Pickler. The venue also will host the very popular WWE tour this month. MSG carries a power score of 2.01.

Fenway Park drops again, down one more to the number seven position this week. The home of the iconic Boston Red Sox, in at number two on TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings, will see a rare visit by the Dave Matthews Band, playing two shows in May. Fenway Park has a power score of 1.81 this week.

TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA falls hard this week, down to the number eight spot and power scoring a 1.71. The Garden is home to the Boston Celtics as well as NHL Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Bruins, two teams in playoff contention this year. The venue also hosts two dates each for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band later this month and tween faves the Jonas Brothers in July.

Soldier Field in Chicago, IL debuts in the number nine spot this week. With a power score of 1.62, the venue will host a June stop on Kenny Chesney’s tour and the first two dates of U2’s North American tour in September.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA falls three more this week to the number ten position. The Center is home court to the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, who have clinched the Western Conference title and are headed for the playoffs, as well as home to the L.A. Kings hockey team, struggling in their division this season. The venue also hosts the likes of Britney Spears later this month, the Jonas Brothers and the WWE in August, and AC/DC in September. The Staples Center power scores a 1.34 this week.

Baseball, basketball and hockey venues are big in the rankings this week, particularly as the playoff picture shapes up for the NBA and NHL. More outdoor concert venues join the list as summer approaches and U2 starts to sell out stadiums throughout the country. The Gershwin remains the sole Broadway venue on our list, a trend for the past several weeks.

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.


Top Venues

Week Ending 04/05/2009

      Venue Score
1 Ford Field Tickets 2.78
2 New Yankee Stadium Tickets 2.61
3 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 2.58
4 Giants Stadium Tickets 2.34
5 Gillette Stadium Tickets 2.06
6 Madison Square Garden Tickets 2.01
7 Fenway Park Tickets 1.81
8 TD Banknorth Garden Tickets 1.71
9 Soldier Field Stadium Tickets 1.62
10 Staples Center Tickets 1.34
11 MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets 1.23
12 Energysolutions Arena Tickets 1.20
13 Orpheum Theatre Tickets 1.08
14 Palace Theatre Tickets 1.07
15 Wachovia Center Tickets 1.03
16 Wrigley Field Tickets 0.97
17 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre Tickets 0.92
18 Toyota Center Tickets 0.90
19 Quicken Loans Arena Tickets 0.88
20 American Airlines Center Tickets 0.88