Making its debut on TicketNews’ exclusive rankings this week is the Hollywood Bowl, the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States. The popular outdoor venue leapt to No. 3 in the rankings, thanks in part to the May 5 release of individual tickets to the 2012 summer concert schedule.

Some of the upcoming featured acts scheduled to appear at the bowl this summer season include The Beach Boys on June 2, Glen Campbell on June 24-26, July 4th Fireworks Spectaculars on July 2-5 with special guest Barry Manilow, and popular Grammy Award winning guitarist Juanes is scheduled to perform at the venue on Aug. 17-18. In addition to the all the upcoming musical acts featured for the 2012 season, the amphitheater is the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra who have regular scheduled performances throughout the season.

Moving up from the No. 4 spot in last weeks rankings to the No. 1 position this week is Las Vegas own MGM Grand Garden. Likely driving the venue into this top position this week were the last minute ticket sales for the popular WBA super welterweight title fight between undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather and challenger Miguel Cotto. The fight took place at the venue on May 5 with Mayweather winning by unanimous decision.

Also boosting the venue into the lead position this week were sales for the recently announced An Evening with Rush: The Clockwork Angels Tour, which is scheduled for November 5 and the UFC 148 fight with Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen on July 7.

Also scheduled to appear at the MGM Grand is the Club Paradise Tour featuring Hip Hop artist Drake on May 11, Nickelback, Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days on June 16, and the popular two-day IHeartRadio Music Festival in September.

TicketNews Exclusive Rankings and Power Scores are based on ticket sales for venues from the TicketNetwork Exchange™. A Power Score illustrates a given venue’s significance among all other venues listed in the Exchange. Two factors are used to calculate a power score: total ticket sales for a venue, and total ticket sales overall.

Top Venues

Week Ending 5/6/12

       Venue Score
1 MGM Grand Garden Arena Tickets 2.90
2 Eugene O’Neill Theatre Tickets 2.35
3 Madison Square Garden Tickets 1.91
4 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Tickets 1.81
5 Hollywood Bowl Tickets 1.58
6 Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets 1.47
7 MetLife Stadium (Formerly New Meadowlands Stadium) Tickets 1.43
8 Yankee Stadium Tickets 1.40
9 Staples Center Tickets 1.23
10 American Airlines Center Tickets 1.16
11 American Airlines Arena Tickets 1.15
12 Mohegan Sun Arena – CT Tickets 1.11
13 Fenway Park Tickets 1.08
14 Wrigley Field Tickets 1.04
15 Toyota Center – TX Tickets 1.03
16 Pepsi Center Tickets 1.02
17 Prudential Center Tickets 0.97
18 Verizon Center – DC Tickets 0.96
19 TD Garden (Fleet Center) Tickets 0.92
20 The Buell Theatre Tickets 0.91