For the first time, Amway Arena in Orlando, FL took the number one spot in TicketNews’s exclusive rankings for the week ending Sunday, May 31. As hometown team the Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals and prepared for their NBA championship round against the Los Angeles Lakers, exploding ticket sales brought the venue up a big four spots to land in the leader position this week. Game 1 of the finals is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at the Lakers’ home, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Power scoring a 3.47 this week, Amway Arena also hosts a summer concert date for heavy hitters Green Day.
Hockey’s Stanley Cup Finals also made it big this week, as Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI, moved back into the top ten and up to number two. The Detroit Red Wings play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL championship series which hit at numbers two (Red Wings) and seven (Penguins) in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings. The Red Wings lead the series 2-1, with game four scheduled for Thursday at the Penguin’s home, the Mellon Arena The Joe Louis Arena power scored a 3.18 this week.
Next on the list is the Gershwin Theatre which bumped up three spots to land in the number three position this week. The perennial top ten finisher continues to enjoy robust ticket sales for its musical Wicked, moving it back into the top spot for Top Combined Events this week as well as maintaining its dominance of the Top Broadway Events and Top Theater Events categories. The Gershwin power scored a 2.97 this week.
Fenway Park in Boston, MA dropped from last week’s number one position down to number four, power scoring a 2.90. Ticket sales for hometown team the Boston Red Sox stayed strong and kept the team in the top ten of TicketNews’s Top Sports Events, in at number five this week. A two-day appearance by the Dave Matthews Band late last week also likely helped to keep Fenway up in the rankings. The Pepsi Center in Denver, CO fell two more in venues this week to land at the number five position. Power scoring a 2.68, the Center was host to the Denver Nuggets, as the team played the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. On May 29, the Nuggets lost their series 4-2, leaving the Lakers to head to the finals. In performances, the Pepsi Center has the Jonas Brothers in June and Green Day in August.
The new Yankee Stadium hit at number six this week, falling four from last week. Ticket sales for the iconic New York Yankees kept them strong in TicketNews’s Top Sports Events ranking this week, placing them ahead of the BoSox at number four.
The Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY moved back into the top ten this week, finishing at number seven. The Nikon has an impressive array of talent gracing its outdoor space this season, including Kenny Chesney and Aerosmith with ZZ Top in June, the Dave Matthews Band for two dates in July, and Blink 182 with Weezer in August. The Nikon at Jones Beach theater power scored a 2.09 this week.
The Staples Center, number eight, benefited from strong ticket sales for its Los Angeles Lakers in both their Western Conference finals and the upcoming NBA final series against the Orlando Magic. In concerts, the Staples Center will host the American Idols Live tour, which lead TicketNews’s Top Concert Events this week, as well as the Jonas Brothers, and Aerosmith with ZZ Top. The Staples Center has a power score of 2.01 this week.
Also getting in on the summer concert action, the Dallas Cowboys Stadium made it back into the top ten venues this week, finishing at number nine. With a power score of 1.66, the Stadium will see top acts like George Strait, at number two in this week’s the Top Concert Events and the Jonas Brothers this summer. The Stadium also hosts a soccer match between Chelsea FC and Club America teams in July. The Stadium is of course home to the legendary Dallas Cowboys, who will start preseason play in August.
Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL hung tough in the top ten this week, moving down two to the number ten spot, and power scoring 1.60. Ticket sales for Wrigley’s Chicago Cubs, took it once again into TicketNews’s Top Sports Events this week, finishing at number six. In concerts, Wrigley will see two July dates on the Elton John and Billy Joel Face 2 Face tour, which held the number eight spot in this week’s Top Concert Events.
NHL and NBA playoff venues again ruled the list this week, with baseball stadiums and outdoor venues making a good showing as well. For the first time since early April, the Gershwin was the sole theater venue to make it into 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.
