According to TicketNews’ exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, April 25, Yankee Stadium was the top venue, trading places with last week’s number one, Fenway Park. Sales for New York Yankees tickets took the team to number one in this week’s Top Sports Events rankings, also switching places with last week’s leader the Boston Red Sox. Yankee Stadium power scored a 2.08 this week.

At number one for the past two weeks, Fenway Park dropped one this week to take the number two spot. Fenway’s Boston Red Sox also dropped one to take number two in Top Sports, after holding the number one spot there for seven consecutive weeks. Fenway Park power scored a 1.89 this week.

The New Meadowlands Stadium debuted this week at number three with a power score of 1.82. As soccer’s World Cup approaches, the Stadium will host a May 7 matchup between the national teams of Mexico (at number three in Top Sports) and Ecuador. In music, the venue has The Eagles (at number eight in this week’s Top Concert Events rankings) performing alongside Keith Urban and the Dixie Chicks on June 10.

Up one to the number four position this week was the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Last week, Staples hosted games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series between its Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, with whom they share a 2-2 series tie. The venue is scheduled to host game 5 of the series on April 27, and a game 7 (if necessary) on May 2. In music, Lady Gaga (dominating the Top Concerts rankings for the third consecutive week) hits the stage for two dates in August, and the WWE (number seven in this week’s Top Sports) makes a stop in August as well. The Staples Center power scored a 1.66 this week.

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The Gershwin Theatre in New York City fell one to land at number five this week. The theater is a perennial top five venue due to robust sales for its hit musical, Wicked. The Gershwin Theatre power scored a 1.65 this week.

Up one to the number six spot this week was Madison Square Garden (MSG). Power scoring a 1.46, MSG will host James Taylor and Carole King (at number six in Top Concerts) in June, Justin Bieber (number two) in August and Roger Waters (number five) in October. The WWE tour visits MSG in June.

The Dallas Cowboys Stadium made it to the top ten this week, coming in at number seven. Ticket sales for the Dallas Cowboys were strong enough this week to take the team to number four in Top Sports. Dallas Cowboys Stadium power scored a 1.16 this week.

Next, the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater moved up one to the number eight position, power scoring a 1.15. This outdoor venue has a number of top musical acts on its summer roster, including Rush (number four in Top Concerts) in July and Jimmy Buffett in August.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV also moved up one to take the number nine spot this week. Later this week, the Arena will host the much-anticipated Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley bout. In music, the venue has James Taylor and Carole King in July, Lady Gaga and Rush in August and Roger Waters in November. The MGM Grand Garden Arena power scored a 1.10 this week.

Down two this week to number ten is the TD Garden (Fleet Center). The Garden is home to the Boston Celtics, who are in Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Miami Heat and lead the series 3-1. The Garden hosted games 1 and 2 last week, and it is scheduled to have game 5 tonight and a game 7 (if necessary) on May 1.

The Garden’s Boston Bruins won their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Buffalo Sabres earlier this week and now head to Eastern Conference semifinal play beginning April 29. In concerts, the venue has James Taylor and Carole King in June, Lady Gaga in July, and Rush and Roger Waters in September. The TD Garden power scored a 1.02 this week.

As summer approaches, baseball stadiums and outdoor concert venues are starting to populate the rankings. The Gershwin remains the sole theater venue sitting in the top ten.

TicketNews Exclusive Rankings and Power Scores are based on ticket sales for venues from the TicketNetwork Exchangeâ„¢, 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 4/25/2010

       Venue Score
1 New Yankee Stadium Tickets 2.08
2 Fenway Park Tickets 1.89
3 New Meadowlands Stadium Tickets 1.82
4 Staples Center Tickets 1.66
5 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 1.65
6 Madison Square Garden Tickets 1.46
7 Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets 1.16
8 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Tickets 1.15
9 MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets 1.10
10 TD Garden (Fleet Center) Tickets 1.02
11 Radio City Music Hall Tickets 0.98
12 Ford Center Tickets 0.95
13 United Center Tickets 0.91
14 American Airlines Center Tickets 0.89
15 Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre (formerly Coors Amphitheatre) Tickets 0.81
16 Soldier Field Stadium Tickets 0.80
17 Wrigley Field Tickets 0.79
18 Target Field Tickets 0.79
19 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre – NY Tickets 0.77
20 Bridgestone Arena (Formerly Sommet Center) Tickets 0.77