"Messy" weather has caused delays and last-minute wardrobe issues for the crews organizing Nik Wallenda's high-wire walks in downtown Chicago on Sunday.
The tightrope for Wallenda's second, blindfolded walk was set up a day later than planned, on Saturday. The production staging to televise the event was similarly delayed by one day because of Friday's cold, windy weather, organizers said. Fleece hats, hand and toe warmers, other under-layers and new jackets had to be purchased too.
"We have just been in full scramble mode," said Sharon Scott, president and general manager of NBC News' Peacock Productions.
At 6 p.m., Wallenda, of the famed Flying Wallendas family circus act, will perform over the Chicago River. The 35-year-old from Sarasota, Fla., best known for walks across an Arizona gorge and Niagara Falls, will walk from the rooftop of Marina City's west tower at a 15-degree angle across the river to the Leo Burnett Building.
He'll then go down to street level and take a car back to Marina City, where he will walk on a tightrope, blindfolded, from the west tower to the east tower.
In total, there are about 300 people working on the event, including Chicago police officers and cultural events employees; Wallenda's crew; those from the Discovery Channel, which is airing the event; and Peacock Productions, which is producing it.
Gretchen Eisele, executive producer, said the setup is "particularly complicated" because it involves three buildings, 23 cameras and several lighting components.
"I think it was a surprise to us how cold it was up there," Eisele said. "We weren't prepared for the wind, really."
And Friday's schedule to prepare the site was virtually lost to snow, 30-something degree weather and a high wind warning.
"The weather was so bad. It was so windy that we couldn't finish building some of the platforms," Eisele said. "It was just too messy up there."
And although Wallenda typically does his stunts in jeans, he may be forced to wear something warmer this time around. He will also be wearing a wind-proof jacket.
"He hasn't done the cold before. This is a first for Nik," Scott said.
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