Wallenda will wire walk over Chicago but location not yet determined

No official word that Chicago River will assist with stunt

(Above) Professional daredevil Nik Wallenda rides a bicycle on a tightrope stretched between two buildings in this image on his website. (Click to view larger version.)

7-Apr-14 – City officials have backed off from speculation that professional daredevil Nik Wallenda will walk a tightrope over the Chicago River.

“The specific location in the city has not been determined, but we know that the Chicago skyline is picturesque from any viewpoint,” said Mary May, public relations coordinator for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

35-year-old Nik Wallenda, the great-grandson of legendary high-wire artist Karl Wallenda, was the first person to walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls and the first to high-wire walk across the Grand Canyon.

He has a contract with the Discovery Channel for near-exclusive broadcast of his stunts. A new show on the television network, Skyscraper Live with Nik Wallenda, is scheduled to air as a live event this fall.

According to May, Wallenda and the Discovery Channel have presented a proposal to the city for a high-wire stunt and the city is “working with them on a plan.”

“This will be one for the history books,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “We are thrilled Nik Wallenda has chosen our great city with its iconic skyline as the site of the next walk.”

The Discovery Channel has not released any information suggesting the stunt will involve the Chicago River. 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly was quoted on April 3 as saying “Wallenda is interested in doing a special event in downtown Chicago, in particular across the Chicago River.”

His office, however, referred a request for elaboration to the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Wallenda’s stunts can cost around $1.2 million but are seen by millions of people. 23 million in 183 countries watched him walk across the Grand Canyon. A broadcast of the Niagara Falls stunt attracted 13.1 million viewers. The Chicago stunt is expected to reach an audience of at least 22 million people.