Falls hopes to capitalize on Wallenda

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Niagara Falls couldn't ask for a bigger attraction than Nik Wallenda' s high-wire walk. The stunt pulled in thousands of visitors and captured headlines around the world. So can the city keep the ball rolling?

Once the incredible feat fades from the headlines, the challenge for the region becomes getting back on page one. On Monday, days after Nik Wallenda's historic walk, Niagara Falls seems to have returned to normalcy, though Terrapin Point was full of spectators.

Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. CEO John Percy said, "We're trying to put a media value on and it's in the millions. We could never spend the money on the coverage we received Friday evening."

Percy said Wallenda has become the biggest ambassador for the area.

"If they showcased us, maybe we could get that travel writer from that particular publication here to do more than just the Nik Wallenda walk and more about the destination," he added.

Percy and his team spent about $40,000 on advertising for the Wallenda walk. They believe their efforts paid off.

Tens of thousands of people were in Niagara Falls, New York, watching Wallenda walk on Friday night. Police say there were no arrests made connected to the big event. Niagara Falls Police Captain John de Marco said that, in fact, surprised him.

"You'd anticipate with all those people down there the potential for problems was great. But because of the atmosphere, it was a positive atmosphere from the time he started walking throughout the entire event. So I think because of the atmosphere everyone played nice," he said.

That only enhances the positive perception of Niagara Falls, New York, one that Percy hopes those who came to visit, remember.

Nearly 40 international media outlets were on the American side of the Falls, Friday night, including 250 reporters, producers and photographers. There were 140,000 tweets-per-minute about Niagara Falls USA. And many are hopeful that momentum will continue.