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Nik Wallenda To Walk Tightrope Between Marina City, Leo Burnett Building

By DNAinfo Staff | September 16, 2014 1:12pm | Updated on September 16, 2014 1:30pm
  Daredevil Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope between Marina City (r.) and the Leo Burnett building Downtown on Nov. 2, the Discovery Channel announced Tuesday.
Daredevil Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope between Marina City (r.) and the Leo Burnett building Downtown on Nov. 2, the Discovery Channel announced Tuesday.
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DNAinfo/Tanveer Ali

CHICAGO — Daredevil Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope between Marina City and the Leo Burnett building Downtown on Nov. 2, the Discovery Channel announced Tuesday.

The feat will be broadcast live on the network at 6 p.m.

"Dozens of cameras will be positioned across the city and on helicopters — rolling as Wallenda attempts this nail-biting, two-part walk at night time in one of the windiest sections of Chicago," the network said. "With unpredictable weather conditions, the tightrope crossing will present countless obstacles."

Wallenda plans to do the walk "untethered," without a net or harness.

“This is going to be the most incredible tightrope walk of my career,” Wallenda said in a news release. “I can’t think of a better city to do it. I have fond memories of spending time performing in Chicago and the Midwest with my family.

 Daredevil Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope from Marina City to the Leo Burnett building Downtown on Nov. 2, the Discovery Channel announced Tuesday.
Daredevil Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope from Marina City to the Leo Burnett building Downtown on Nov. 2, the Discovery Channel announced Tuesday.
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Getty Images/David Welker

"Besides, it’s the ‘Windy City’ and there’s nothing like doing this during winter in Chicago. That’s a challenge for me and I love to push myself to do things that most people think are impossible.”

In April, when the latest generation of Wallenda family daredevils announced his plans for the stunt in Chicago, Ald. Brendan Reilly said he would wait to review plans for the event until after the affected building owners gave their permission for it.

Reilly at the time said he had no problem with the idea.

"Obviously, the primary concern is that it be safe, that it's not done during rush hour. But it's my understanding they would do this in the evening or on a weekend when it's less disruptive.

Wallenda has successfully crossed the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls

Wallenda's untethered walk across a section of the Grand Canyon was broadcast live, albeit with a slight delay. Discovery said the broadcast drew as many as 13 million viewers and generated 1.3 million tweets.

The Chicago stunt will be broadcast in more than 220 countries, Discovery said.

 A view from atop Marina City.
A view from atop Marina City.
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Jeff Lewis/chicagophotoshop.com

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