TicketNews has released its exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, August 30, and Madison Square Garden (MSG) made a major move up to the number one position this week. Helping MSG’s numbers this week is a scheduled October performance from KISS, who came in at number two in this week’s Top Concert Events rankings. The venue also is preparing for the upcoming seasons of the popular New York Knicks and New York Rangers, and it will host the fan favorite WWE tour in November. MSG finished the week with a power score of 3.52.
The new Yankee Stadium also made a big jump this week, up three spots to land at number two. The park’s own New York Yankees still dominate the AL East standings and earned enough in ticket sales to take them to the top of TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings this week. The new Yankee Stadium power scored a 2.33 this week.
The Gershwin Theatre in New York City bumped up one this week to finish in the number three position. With a power score of 2.31, the Gershwin continues to perform well on strong sales for its hit musical, Wicked, which for the sixth week straight remained at the top of TicketNews’s Top Broadway Events, Top Theater Events, and Top Combined Events rankings.
Up four to the number four spot this week was Giants Stadium in Rutherford, NJ. The Stadium currently is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, but the end of the 2009 season will see venue’s close. On its final roster of musical acts are two September dates from U2, who again took the lead in this week’s Top Concerts, and five performances by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (at number seven in this week’s Top Concerts), who will be the last performers to play at the venue. Giants Stadium power scored a 2.06 this week.
Though down three from last week, the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX still performed well in the rankings, coming in at number five and power scoring a 1.99. The stadium is home to the legendary Dallas Cowboys, who moved up to number five in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings. The venue also will see play between the Texas Longhorns (making a big jump to number two in Top Sports Events) and the North Carolina Tar Heels in a game scheduled for December. On January 2, 2010, the venue will host the popular Cotton Bowl. In concerts, Dallas Cowboys Stadium will host an October date from U2.
As play began at the US Open Tennis Championship this week, the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Corona, NY once again made a return to the top ten. In at number six and power scoring a 1.98, the Stadium hosts the popular annual event which runs from late August through mid September.
The Virginia/August Wilson Theatre in New York City remained a strong contender this week, up three slots to number seven. The theater is host to the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, sales for which kept the show at number two in Top Broadway and Top Theater Events, and placed it at number four in Top Combined Events. The Virginia/August Wilson Theatre power scored a 1.55 this week.
Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA made it back to the top ten after a week’s hiatus, arriving in eighth position and power scoring a 1.52. The Field is host to the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose ticket sales this week took them to number three in Top Sports Events.
For the first time in five weeks, the Imperial Theatre in New York City returned to the top ten. In at number nine and power scoring a 1.44, the Imperial is home to the 2009 Tony Award winning musical Billy Elliot, which took third place in this week’s Top Broadway Events and Top Theater Events rankings, and came in at number ten in this week’s Top Combined Events.
Fenway Park dropped again this week, down three to land at number ten, and power scoring a 1.42. The Park’s Boston Red Sox, who continue to hold second place in the AL East rankings, had sales this week which dropped them down to sixth place in Top Sports Events.
Theaters made a bit of a comeback this week, with a total of three finishing in the top ten. Football stadiums and outdoor venues hang tough, with the number of baseball stadiums dwindling on the list as MLB playoffs approach.
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 | Madison Square Garden Tickets | 3.52 |
| 2 | New Yankee Stadium Tickets | 2.33 |
| 3 | Gershwin Theatre Tickets | 2.31 |
| 4 | Giants Stadium Tickets | 2.06 |
| 5 | Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets | 1.99 |
| 6 | Arthur Ashe Stadium Tickets | 1.98 |
| 7 | Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.55 |
| 8 | Heinz Field Tickets | 1.52 |
| 9 | Imperial Theatre – NY Tickets | 1.44 |
| 10 | Fenway Park Tickets | 1.42 |
| 11 | Cotton Bowl Stadium Tickets | 1.23 |
| 12 | Gillette Stadium Tickets | 1.21 |
| 13 | Lambeau Field Tickets | 1.17 |
| 14 | Soldier Field Stadium Tickets | 1.16 |
| 15 | MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets | 1.13 |
| 16 | TD Garden Tickets | 1.07 |
| 17 | Orpheum Theatre – San Francisco Tickets | 1.00 |
| 18 | Invesco Field At Mile High Tickets | 0.94 |
| 19 | Georgia Dome Tickets | 0.93 |
| 20 | Caesars Palace – Colosseum Tickets | 0.89 |
