Giants Stadium in Rutherford, NJ made a big move this week to claim the top spot in TicketNews’s exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, July 26. Up nine spots to number one and power scoring a monster 6.04, the Stadium benefited from strong ticket sales for soccer’s Concacaf Gold Cup finals (leading TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings this week), played at the Stadium on July 26. The venue also has booked a number of top selling artists this summer, including U2, who this week moved up to number three in TicketNews’s Top Concert Events, AC/DC (at number five in Top Concerts) and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (at number nine) who play the venue’s final concerts ever in the early fall as the Stadium prepares to close at the end of the NFL’s 2009 season. In the meantime, the Stadium remains home to the popular New York Giants and New York Jets, teams currently selling tickets for preseason and regular season play.
Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX took a slight tumble to land in the number two position this week, power scoring a 3.25. The Stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys, whose ticket sales have frequently placed them in the top ten of Ticketnews’s Top Sports Events rankings, where they finished at number eight this week. In other sports, the stadium hosted the Chelsea FC (at number seven in Top Sports Events) this week in their match against Club America, a game which likely helped to keep the venue high in the rankings. In music, the venue will see an August date from Paul McCartney, who continued to handily dominate all rivals in this week’s Top Concert rankings, and will have from U2 in October.
Fenway Park dropped one more this week to land in the number three spot, as its Boston Red Sox also slipped one to take number three in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings. In concerts, the park is set to host two August dates on the very popular Paul McCartney tour. Fenway power scored a 3.02 this week. The new Yankee Stadium follows Fenway in the rankings, holding steady in the number four position. With a power score of 2.51, the Stadium continues to enjoy strong ticket sales for its New York Yankees, who landed at number two in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings.
The Gershwin Theatre in New York City dropped two this week to take the number five spot. With a power score of 2.50, the Gershwin hosts Broadway’s long-running hit musical Wicked, which once again topped Ticketnews’s Top Broadway Events, Top Theater Events, and Top Combined Events rankings this week.
Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa, OK, finished in the top ten for the second week in a row, hitting at number six and power scoring a 1.91. This week, the venue hosted the popular American Idols Live tour (holding at number eight in Top Concerts), and it has scheduled a number of other top artists in the coming weeks, including Paul McCartney in August, Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler (number six in Top Concerts) in September and the Dave Matthews Band (at number four) and Miley Cyrus in October. The venue also has a stop on the fan-favorite WWE tour in September.
Soldier Field in Chicago, IL made its seasonal debut in this week’s top ten, taking the number seven spot. The stadium is home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears who are selling tickets for preseason and season play. In music, the venue will see two dates on U2’s tour in September. Soldier Field ended the week with a power score of 1.66.
The Imperial Theatre in New York City moved back into the top ten this week, landing at number eight and power scoring a 1.32. The Imperial is home to the 2009 Tony Award winning musical Billy Elliot, which took second place in this week’s Top Broadway Events rankings, fourth in Top Theater Events, and tenth in Top
Combined Events.
Next, Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL, dropped three spots to land at number nine in the rankings. Hometown favorites the Chicago Cubs continue their season-long stretch of solid ticket sales, landing the team at number four in Top Sports Events. This week the venue was host to two dates on the well attended Elton John and Billy Joel tour, helping to keep Wrigley’s numbers high for one more week.
Rounding out the top ten this week was Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, which dropped one to the number ten spot. Power scoring a 1.27, the Stadium is home to the iconic New England Patriots, who are preparing for preseason and seasonal play. In concerts, the venue also will host a performance by AC/DC tonight, by the Kenny Chesney tour in August, and then will see two dates from U2 in September.
Football stadiums crowded the top ten this week, though baseball stadiums held their own as well. In general, it was a good week for outdoor concert venues. The Gershwin was once again joined by the Imperial, making a total of two theater venues 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.
| Venue | Score | |
| 1 | Giants Stadium Tickets | 6.04 |
| 2 | Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets | 3.25 |
| 3 | Fenway Park Tickets | 3.02 |
| 4 | New Yankee Stadium Tickets | 2.51 |
| 5 | Gershwin Theatre Tickets | 2.50 |
| 6 | Bank Of Oklahoma Center Tickets | 1.91 |
| 7 | Soldier Field Stadium Tickets | 1.66 |
| 8 | Imperial Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.32 |
| 9 | Wrigley Field Tickets | 1.27 |
| 10 | Gillette Stadium Tickets | 1.27 |
| 11 | Metrodome Tickets | 1.26 |
| 12 | Nikon at Jones Beach TheaterWachovia Center Tickets | 1.25 |
| 13 | Orpheum Theatre – San Francisco Tickets | 1.23 |
| 14 | Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.19 |
| 15 | Madison Square Garden Tickets | 1.18 |
| 16 | MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets | 1.12 |
| 17 | Citizens Bank Park Tickets | 1.11 |
| 18 | Wachovia Center Tickets | 1.10 |
| 19 | Fedex Field Tickets | 1.07 |
| 20 | M&t Bank Stadium Tickets | 1.03 |
