GREEN BAY, Wis. — About 250,000 NFL tourists are expected in Green Bay for the NFL Draft from April 24 to 26.

What You Need To Know

  • About 250,000 NFL tourists are expected in Green Bay for the NFL Draft from April 24 to 26

  • Dr. Kyle McCarty is the emergency medicine director for HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital

  • Earlier this year, a terrorist attack killed 14 people and injured many others on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Not only were crowds celebrating the New Year, but many were in town for the Sugar Bowl. The terrorist attack that coincided with a large-scale sporting event is still fresh on McCarty’s mind

  • Many area hospitals have trained for and have plans for mass casualty events

HSHS St. Vincent and Bellin Health hospital systems have spent months preparing for the draft.

The city typically hosts 80,000 fans for Green Bay Packers’ home games. NFL Draft crowds are expected to be three times bigger. 

Dr. Kyle McCarty is the emergency medicine director for HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital.

He said teams are prepared and have a system in place for the event.   

“All of the communication lines are very well established. All of the key individuals that need to be involved are well established. We have a lot of history and just an excellent chain of communication and chain of command that’s been flushed out over decades,” McCarty said.

Earlier this year, a terrorist attack killed 14 people and injured many others on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Not only were crowds celebrating the New Year, but many were in town for the Sugar Bowl. The terrorist attack that coincided with a large-scale sporting event is still fresh on McCarty’s mind.

He said the hospital has a mass casualty plan in place.

“This is something that we drill on every year, multiple times a year, not just within our hospital system, but with coordinating with the other hospital systems,” McCarty said.

Bellin Health participated in this joint mass casualty exercise.

David Kobielak, emergency management director, said he’s confident the hospital can provide proper care.

“During that exercise, we actually had 20 hospitals participating in an effort to, you know, practice caring for 250 patients, moving patients throughout the area to ensure that they can, you know, receive the best care,” Kobielak said.

Both hospitals have extra staff on call, prepared to work extra hours during the draft.

McCarty said his hospital has a unique advantage in helping care for visitors.

“We do have hospitals and emergency departments on both sides of Green Bay, which does put us in a unique position to respond to issues wherever they may arise and share resources across the hospitals,” McCarty said.

Doctors urged visitors to bring necessary medical supplies, such as insulin or oxygen, as emergency replacements could be difficult to get.

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