In the midst of a trade conflict characterized by President Donald Trump’s assertions regarding Canadian sovereignty and his proposal to prohibit the import of various Canadian goods to the U.S., an unexpected announcement has emerged from the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
On Wednesday, the franchise revealed via social media platform X that both O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner will be sung prior to their home opener against the Detroit Lions on September 17, marking the inaugural regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium.
The Bills stated, “For the first time in the history of Highmark Stadium, we will honor both the American and Canadian anthems during pregame.” Actress and singer Auliʻi Cravalho is set to perform the American anthem, while the Toronto-based band Barenaked Ladies will deliver O Canada.
Barenaked Ladies members Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, and Jim Creeggan, left to right, are pictured in Toronto on September 9, 2023. They are set to perform O Canada before the Buffalo Bills’ home game against the Detroit Lions on September 17. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
Typically, the Canadian national anthem is seldom played before NFL matches in Buffalo; however, it is often heard prior to NHL games, even when the Sabres face off against American teams. In April, fans at KeyBank Center in Buffalo sang O Canada after a microphone malfunction occurred before the Sabres’ playoff match against the Boston Bruins.
Buffalo stands out as the sole NHL team in the U.S. that plays both national anthems prior to home games against teams from both Canada and the U.S.
Escalating tariffs intensify trade conflict
On Tuesday, Trump enacted five proclamations to prohibit imports from Canada, including alcoholic beverages, motorcycles, and a range of other items effective September 29, alongside imposing 50 percent tariffs on a selection of additional products starting next week.
Auliʻi Cravalho, seen arriving at the premiere of Moana on July 7 in Los Angeles, is poised to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Bills’ upcoming game. (Richard Shotwell/The Associated Press)
This recent action marks a further escalation in the ongoing trade conflict between Canada and the U.S., which follows the initiation of Canadian retaliatory tariffs that were enacted on Tuesday after trade negotiations collapsed last month.
In justifying Canada’s decision to refrain from finalizing a trade agreement amid Trump’s significant tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian products, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated: “We were unwilling to compromise Canada’s sovereignty or jeopardize our vital industries.”
The Bills’ owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, acquired the team for $1.4 billion US from the estate of the late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson in 2014.
In 2024, NBA Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, both former stars of the Toronto Raptors, were included among 10 limited partners who joined the Bills’ ownership group. Jozy Altidore, a former member of the U.S. National Team and MLS champion, also became one of the newly announced limited partners.
This represented the first occasion in the franchise’s history that minority owners were added.