FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Jan. 20, 2005
Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster
(559) 278-5292 or (559) 593-1815 

Save Mart Center Ranks 24^th in the World in Attendance

The Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno was ranked No. 24 in the world in attendance at concerts and programs during 2004 by the industry's leading magazine, making it the highest-attended collegiate facility.

POLLSTAR Magazine, which tracks all ticket sales in venues worldwide, announced the ranking in their 2004 year-end issue. Total ticket sales at the Save Mart Center were 279,890 (excluding any professional, minor league or intercollegiate sporting events). The rankings are solely based on ticket sales for non-competitive events.

The Save Mart Center ticket sales fall only slightly behind two other major California venues, Staples Center (ranked No. 20 with 307,925 ticket sales), and Oakland Arena (ranked No. 21 with 295,113 tickets). Both the Save Mart Center and Oakland Arena are operated and managed by SMG.

"This is great news for the Save Mart Center and for the university," said Steve Tadlock, SMG general manager for the center. "The Save Mart Center is clearly regarded by promoters as an important venue for national show tours. Thanks to the support by our Valley residents and residents throughout California, ticket sales continue to exceed market expectations.

“We continue to sustain interest, and bookings for 2005 will continue to bring top entertainment to the Save Mart Center," Tadlock said.

In POLLSTAR’s mid-year ranking issued last July, the Save Mart Center ranked an impressive No. 10. “But a full-year of ticket sales sold is considered a more reliable view of a venue's performance,” Tadlock said.

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