With the conclusion of the World Series, Madison Square Garden (MSG) moved up from last week’s number three to regain the leader position in TicketNews’s exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, November 8. The teams that call MSG home, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, are into their respective seasons, with the Knicks taking number two in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings. This past weekend saw a two-date appearance by the iconic Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (ranking fourth in this week’s Top Concert Events), likely boosting MSG’s numbers for the week. The WWE tour (at number six in Top Sports this week) arrives at the venue later this month. This week MSG power scored a very impressive 5.02.

Radio City Music Hall in New York City moved up three to take the number two spot this week. Power scoring a 2.89, Radio City is the first home to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (at number two in Top Concerts this week), now also a traveling show for the holidays. Lady Gaga, at number nine in this week’s Top Concerts, hits the stage for two performances in January.

With the New York Yankees strong in their World Series play last week, ultimately clinching the series against Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on November 4, the new Yankee Stadium, which hosted games 1, 2 and 6 of the Series, also held firm in the rankings, finishing at number three this week and power scoring a 2.84. The Yanks’s World Series ticket sales helped them once again to dominate this week’s Top Sports Events rankings.

The Gershwin Theatre in New York City held at number four this week, power scoring a 2.77. The Gershwin is a perennial top five finisher thanks to continued strong ticket sales for the hit musical Wicked.

Next, the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, OK, made its debut in the top ten this week, landing in the number five spot. Power scoring a 1.78, the venue is home court to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, which are currently in seasonal play. In music, the Center is scheduled to host Elton John and Billy Joel on November 25, just weeks after John’s release from a London hospital where he was treated for flu and E.coli infection. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (finishing at number six in this week’s Top Concerts) plays the venue on December 20, and Taylor Swift, leading both this week’s Top Concerts and Top Events rankings, makes an appearance at the end of March 2010.

This week, the Virginia/August Wilson Theatre in New York City made an appearance in the top ten for the first time since mid-October, finishing at number six. Solid box office receipts for the long running hit musical Jersey Boys keep the theater a strong top ten or top fifteen contender week after week. The Virginia/August Wilson Theatre power scored a 1.72 this week.

Making a big move up from number sixteen last week, Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX arrived at number seven in this week’s rankings. Ticket sales for the Dallas Cowboys remain strong, taking them to number three in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings. In other events, the Stadium will host the popular Cotton Bowl on January 2 and the NBA All-Star Game on February 14. Dallas Cowboys Stadium ended the week with a power score of 1.58.

The TD Garden (Fleet Center) made its seasonal debut in the top ten this week, finishing at number eight and power scoring a 1.49. The Garden is home to both the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics (hitting at number four in this week’s Top Sports rankings), both teams now in seasonal play.

Home of the Denver Broncos, Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium arrived in the top ten at number nine this week, likely assisted by Broncos’s ticket sales, which took the team to number ten in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings, and by an upcoming date by U2 (up to number three in this week’s Top Concerts), who plays the venue in June 2010. Invesco Field power scored a 1.47 this week.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA finished out the top ten this week, power scoring a 1.40. The Staples Center is home to the LA Kings and the very popular LA Lakers, who took number five this week in the Top Sports rankings. In concerts, the venue will host a date from KISS on November 25, Bon Jovi in March, and Taylor Swift for two nights in April.

World Series winners the New York Yankees held the sole baseball venue in this week’s top ten, with football stadiums along with hockey and basketball venues slowly taking the rest of the list. Some indoor sports venues which double as concert arenas made it big this week. The Gershwin and the Virginia/August Wilson Theatres were the only theatre venues to place in the top ten this week.

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 11/8/2009

       Venue Score
1 Madison Square Garden Tickets 5.02
2 Radio City Music Hall Tickets 2.89
3 New Yankee Stadium Tickets 2.84
4 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 2.77
5 Ford Center Tickets 1.78
6 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets 1.72
7 Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets 1.58
8 TD Garden (Fleet Center) Tickets 1.49
9 Invesco Field At Mile High Tickets 1.47
10 Staples Center Tickets 1.40
11 Wachovia Center Tickets 1.36
12 Bank Atlantic Center Tickets 1.30
13 Orpheum Theatre – San Francisco Tickets 1.22
14 Imperial Theatre – NY Tickets 1.21
15 Pepsi Center Tickets 1.19
16 John Paul Jones Arena Tickets 1.09
17 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Tickets 0.99
18 Air Canada Centre Tickets 0.99
19 Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton Tickets 0.92
20 American Airlines Center Tickets 0.85