The Buffalo Bills will perform both the Canadian and American national anthems during their first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium. The team will host the Detroit Lions in Orchard Park, New York, for this historic pregame ceremony.
Auliʻi Cravalho and Barenaked Ladies to lead the Highmark Stadium opener
The Buffalo Bills have enlisted high-profile talent to mark the debut of their new venue. According to the report, Auliʻi Cravalho, the actress and singer known for her role in Disney’s Moana, will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner." Joining her for the festivities is the Toronto-based band Barenaked Ladies, with members Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, and Jim Creeggan slated to perform "O Canada."
This musical pairing underscores the team's intent to blend American patriotism with a nod to its northern neighbors. the event serves as the first regular-season NFL game at the new Highmark Stadium, which officially held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 23, 2026.
A diplomatic gesture amid Trump's 50 per cent tariffs
The decision to play both anthems arrives during a period of severe diplomatic volatility. As reported on Sept. 9, 2026, President Donald Trump has recently intensified a trade war with Canada, signing five proclamations that ban the import of Canadian motorcycles and alcohol effective Sept. 29. Furthermore, the U.S. administration has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on a variety of other Canadian products.
Canada has responded with its own retaliatory tariffs after trade negotiations collapsed last month. By centering the Canadian national anthem in a high-visibility NFL event, the Buffalo Bills are positioning themselves as a cultural bridge at a time when official government relations between Washington and Ottawa are strained and characterized by uncertainty.
How Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady shifted the Bills' ownership profile
The Bills' openness to Canadian identity is not merely a PR move; it is reflected in the team's cap table. While Terry and Kim Pegula originally purchased the franchise for $1.4 billion US in 2014, the ownership group has since diversified. In 2024, the organization added 10 limited partners, including NBA legends Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, both of whom are former stars of the Toronto Raptors.
The inclusion of other figures like Jozy Altidore, a former star for Toronto FC, further cements the team's ties to the Toronto sports market. By acknowledging Canadian fans through the pregame ceremony, the Buffalo Bills are honoring a demographic that is now represented not just in the stands, but within the ownership structure of the team.
The contrast between the NFL and KeyBank Center's hockey traditions
While the dual-anthem ceremony is a first for Highmark Stadium, it is a standard practice in other Buffalo sports venues. At the KeyBank Center, the Canadian anthem is routinely played before NHL games, even when the Buffalo Sabres are facing American opponents. This creates a curious discrepancy where the city's hockey culture has long embraced binationalism, while its football culture is only now adopting the practice for a specific milestone event.
It remains unclear whether the Buffalo Bills intend to make the dual-anthem tradition a permanent fixture for all home games or if this is a one-time celebration for the stadium opener.. Additionally, the report does not specify if the team has coordinated this gesture with U.S. State Department officials given the current trade hostilities.
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