Sun Dome joins busy bunch

Amalie Arena, the former Tampa Bay Times Forum, might get all the accolades when it comes to event ticket sales. But it's not the only game in town.

The University of South Florida's Sun Dome in Tampa is ranked fifth in the nation for college venues of its size, says Venues Today Magazine. That ranking is based on annual ticket sales and attendance, including performers like the Harlem Globetrotters, Shaquille O'Neal, Katt Williams and Wiz Khalifa. The SunDome also was home to a stop in primatologist Jane Goodall's lecture series late last year.

Venues Today also continues to honor Amalie Arena, ranking it third last summer in the United States and 10th in the world, for venues seating 15,000 or more. That arena is consistently ranked one of the nation's busiest, hosting a variety of concerts, sporting events and even the 2012 Republican National Convention.

The Sun Dome underwent a $35.6 million renovation in 2012, and has since refocused the arena's offerings. Like Amalie Arena -- which hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm -- the Sun Dome also is home to USF athletic events such as basketball and volleyball.