Ah, you can almost smell the freshly cut grass of the outfield in TicketNews’s newly released venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, April 12. The new Yankee Stadium finally takes the number one spot as loyal fans make sure they get to the team’s inaugural season in their new home. The New York Yankees open the stadium Thursday, April 16, against the Cleveland Indians. The new Yankee Stadium power scores a 2.75 this week.

Following close on its heels at number two is Fenway Park in Boston, MA. Barely edged out of number one with a power score of 2.73, Fenway makes a strong comeback after having dropped down as low as number seven in last week’s rankings. Robust ticket sales for the BoSox’s new season and for two appearances by the Dave Matthews Band in May helped fuel the venue’s upward mobility this week. Baseball’s domination of the rankings is complete with the Yankees and Sox taking the numbers one and two positions, respectively, in this week’s TicketNews Top Sports Events rankings.

The Gershwin Theatre holds steady in the number three spot this week. Power scoring a 2.48, The Gershwin can thank continued strong ticket sales on its long-running hit musical, Wicked, for its frequent top five placement in the rankings. Madison Square Garden (MSG) is next on our list, up two spots this week to the number four position. MSG is home court to New York Knicks basketball and also will host at least two games of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals next week between its hometown New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. The arena also will see a number of dates on the season’s most popular tours, including those of the Dave Matthews Band, Andrea Bocelli, Taylor Swift with Kellie Pickler, the WWE and Metallica, who will move to paperless ticketing for their concert in Canada later this year. MSG has a power score this week of 2.00.

Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ drops one to the number five position this week. Power scoring a 1.82, the Stadium is scheduled to host perennial rock favorites AC/DC in July and, in late September, the much hyped tour of U2, which continues to lead TicketNews’s Top Concert Events and Top Events rankings this week.

TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA shows a slight resurgence this week, up two to the number six spot. The Garden is home to the NBA’s Atlantic Division leading Boston Celtics. The venue also hosts NHL Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Bruins, which are headed into Eastern Conference quarterfinal play at home against the Montreal Canadiens this week. In concerts, the Garden will see dates on the top-selling tours of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band later this month and the Jonas Brothers in July.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, makes a recovery this week, up three to the number seven slot. The Center is host to two shows by Britney Spears later this week, two by tween faves the Jonas Brothers in August, and one by AC/DC in September. Staples also is home to the very popular Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, which have clinched the Western Conference and are headed for the playoffs. The Staples Center power scores a 1.44 this week. The MGM Grand Garden Arena returns to the rankings for the first time since early February. In eighth place and power scoring a 1.43, the MGM is preparing for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton bout on May 2, currently at number four in TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings. The MGM also will host Britney Spears later this month, two dates by the Dave Matthews Band in May, and Nickelback in September.

The Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, CA surfaces on the list for the first time since mid-March. At number nine and power scoring a 1.42, the Orpheum is hosting a long-running West Coast production of “Wicked.” Finally, rounding out the top ten this week is Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Down five slots to the number ten position, the Stadium is set to host a number of popular artists this summer, including top sellers U2, Elton John and Billy Joel, Kenny Chesney and AC/DC. Gillette Stadium carries a power score this week of 1.35.

Baseball and basketball and hockey venues are still strong performers in the rankings, and they should stay strong through the next few weeks as baseball season heats up and the others move into playoffs. Stadiums are holding their own in the top ten as the summer concert season approaches. With the Orpheum’s return to the rankings, the Gershwin is no longer the sole theater venue alive in the top ten.

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 04/12/2009

      Venue Score
1 New Yankee Stadium Tickets 2.75
2 Fenway Park Tickets 2.73
3 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 2.48
4 Madison Square Garden Tickets 2.00
5 Giants Stadium Tickets 1.82
6 TD Banknorth Garden Tickets 1.70
7 Staples Center Tickets 1.44
8 MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets 1.43
9 Orpheum Theatre Tickets 1.42
10 Gillette Stadium Tickets 1.35
11 Wrigley Field Tickets 1.31
12 Soldier Field Stadium Tickets 1.18
13 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre Tickets 1.17
14 Rose Bowl Tickets 1.09
15 Comcast Center Center Tickets 1.00
16 Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center Tickets 0.95
17 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Tickets 0.93
18 Quicken Loans Arena Tickets 0.90
19 Hp Pavilion Tickets 0.88
20 Pepsi Center Tickets 0.88
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