Pittsburgh’s hospital systems ‘prepare for the unexpected’ as the NFL Draft approaches
Allegheny Health Network and UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh officials expect up to 500,000 visitors to flood the city for the 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25, bringing routine medical needs as well as risks tied to large crowds, alcohol use and possible emergencies. To prepare, the city’s two largest hospital systems, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and UPMC, have coordinated weekly since January to anticipate a wide range of scenarios, from minor injuries to mass-casualty events.
“It is a partnership, when you’re talking about an event like this,” said Brent Rau, M.D., medical director of the emergency medicine department at AHN. “There’s no competition here. We’re all in the business of taking care of patients.”
Preparations include mass-casualty drills, consultations with the NFL and host cities from previous drafts, and the deployment of multiple pop-up medical tents across the city. These tents — staffed by physicians, nurses and residents — will offer not only first aid but also full triage capabilities, climate control and consistent staffing, regardless of which system operates them. Hospital leaders emphasize that Pittsburgh’s experience hosting major concerts, sporting events and marathons, combined with its three nearby Level I trauma centers, gives leaders confidence that no single hospital will be overwhelmed.