"For us, it's complementary to all those venues," said Gordon, who says the building will be open to other presenters as well as Live Nation. A broad range of acts could play, with a typical theater schedule of one of two shows a week. Expect R&B and soul stars like Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige, and comedians such as Louis C.K. or hometown hero Kevin Hart, with some doing multi-night runs. There will be electronic dance acts and jammy rock bands. Bob Weir — the officiate at Gordon's wedding to his wife, Sayeeda, between sets at a Weir show at the Tower in October — and other Grateful Dead members are investors.



"When I first moved here 20 years ago, everybody went to eat at Bookbinders," said Gordon, who previously booked shows in the Washington area. "There were no real restaurants, right? Then a guy named Stephen Starr decided to open Buddakan and all these other restaurants. And it was, 'Can the city handle it?' Well, look at what the city's handling right now. The NFL draft and the Penn Relays in the same week. Made in America. How many new jobs will there be when the new Comcast tower goes up, 2,000? Those people are going to be looking for things to do." Philadelphia, he says, "couldn't be hotter."