ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥

Live Nation is bringing a to the city’s downtown.

The comedy, food and beverage club, with four other locations in the U.S., plans to move in at 119 E. Toole St. following remodeling of the building.

“These aren’t venues that we just want to plop into a community,� Amanda Kyser, head of , told the Rio Nuevo board in asking for financial assistance to bring the venue downtown. “This is not a pilot.�

She said Punch Line is expected to bring about 400 shows a year to Tucson with more than 60,000 guests.

The majority of guests, Kyser said, will be out-of-town visitors who could bring revenue to hotels, restaurants and transit.

The new club will have seating for 250 people, and there will be an adjacent and Stardust Lounge.

Kyser said about eight shows a week are expected in Tucson once Punch Line is open with revenue predicted between $10.7 million in the first year and up to $12.1 million in year five of operation.

The club is committed to reserving spots for local comedians, Kyser said.

Ticket prices will be between $25 and $35 on average, with higher prices for big-name comedians.

Punch Line Comedy Club opened in San Francisco in 1978 with comedians such as Robin Williams, Dana Carvey and Ellen DeGeneres, among others, before they got widespread fame.

The club has locations in Philadelphia, Houston and Atlanta.

Now Tucson is on the map.

The Rio Nuevo board unanimously voted to contribute $2.1 million toward the renovation of the downtown building to bring Punch Line to Tucson.

The building’s current tenants, and , will be moving out. Playformance will be there through the summer and run its last summer camp from that location.

A timeline for opening the club has not yet been announced.