without a safety net below. sarah schulte from our chicago affiliate reports. reporter: with their necks cranked up, the crowd became bigger and bigger as the wait for nik wallenda became longer and longer. many arrived by mid-afternoon to stake out a spot. it wasn t until after 7:30 when the 35-year-old stepped out and wowed thousands of people who watched with camera phones or with their naked eye. when he did niagara falls, i wish i was there. i said when he did the grand canyon, i wish i was there. he s here in my hometown. reporter: that hometown pride prompted many to witness it in person. for somebody to choose my city to do this, i m proud to live here.g1u reporter: whether it was watching it from the bridge house tavern or a balcony at marina towers or in an office building with a great view. everybody was staring into the sky as he made his way with