Pittsburgh Hospitals Prepare for Influx of Patients During NFL Draft

UPMC and Allegheny Health Network collaborate on expanded care plans for the major event.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:26pm

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As the 2026 NFL draft approaches, Pittsburgh's major healthcare systems UPMC and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) are ramping up preparations to handle an expected surge of patients during the high-profile event. The hospitals plan to set up tents, pop-up clinics, and command centers across the city to provide care for both minor issues like alcohol-related incidents as well as more serious underlying medical conditions.

Why it matters

Hosting the NFL draft is a major undertaking for any city, bringing in large crowds and increased activity that can strain local healthcare resources. Pittsburgh's hospitals are taking a proactive approach to ensure they can meet the anticipated demand and provide quality care to both residents and visitors during this busy time.

The details

UPMC will have tents and pop-up care sites in high-traffic areas like Market Square, the Point, and near the draft stage itself. AHN is also setting up a clinic in Market Square and will have a command center at Nova Place on the North Side. Both systems say they've been collaborating closely and learning from the experiences of previous draft host cities to optimize their plans.

  • The 2026 NFL draft takes place in Pittsburgh in just over three weeks.
  • AHN's Downtown Express Care will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday of the draft weekend.

The players

Dr. Donald Yealy

Chief medical officer and senior vice president with UPMC.

Dr. Brent Rau

Medical director of the Allegheny General Hospital emergency department.

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What they’re saying

“The key point is to have it nearby where the largest crowds will be.”

— Dr. Donald Yealy, Chief medical officer and senior vice president with UPMC

“Fortunately, both of these health systems have many nurses, many doctors, and many staff in general.”

— Dr. Brent Rau, Medical director of the Allegheny General Hospital emergency department

What’s next

AHN says patients with previously scheduled primary care appointments downtown during draft time will have the option to use video instead, helping to alleviate in-person demand.

The takeaway

Pittsburgh's major healthcare providers are taking a collaborative, proactive approach to ensure they can handle the expected influx of patients during the high-profile NFL draft event, drawing on lessons learned from previous host cities to optimize their plans and resources.