Bills to Play Both Anthems Before Season Opener
Buffalo will feature both the American and Canadian anthems at Highmark Stadium ahead of hosting Detroit, amid strained U.S.-Canada trade relations.
The Buffalo Bills will play both the American and Canadian national anthems before their season opener at Highmark Stadium next Thursday, the club said in a post on X.
The Bills host the Detroit Lions in the game, the first NFL fixture at the venue since it opened earlier this year.
The Canadian rock group Barenaked Ladies will perform "O Canada". Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced the lead character in Disney's "Moana" films, will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Highmark Stadium has not staged a dual anthem before. The move follows renewed tariff disputes between Washington and Ottawa. President Donald Trump has placed tariffs on Canadian imports and issued orders renaming landmarks along the border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded with retaliatory tariffs and calls to cut Canada's trade reliance on the United States.
The Bills did not explain the decision and did not respond to requests for comment on whether the anthem was meant as support for Canada or a bid to ease tensions during the trade dispute. It is also unclear whether the dual anthem will continue beyond next week.
Buffalo played several home games in Toronto between 2008 and 2013 in an effort to build a fan base north of the border.
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