In the midst of a trade dispute characterized by President Donald Trump’s threats to Canadian autonomy and his intention to prohibit the import of various Canadian goods into the U.S., the NFL’s Buffalo Bills have made a surprising declaration.
On Wednesday, the franchise announced via social media platform X that both O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner will be performed prior to their home opener against the Detroit Lions on September 17, marking the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium.
The Bills declared, “For the first time in Highmark Stadium’s history, we will honor both the American and Canadian anthems during the pregame.” Actress and singer Auliʻi Cravalho is set to perform the American anthem, while the Toronto-based band Barenaked Ladies will deliver O Canada.
From left to right, Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, and Jim Creeggan are seen in Toronto on September 9, 2023. The band will perform O Canada ahead of the Buffalo Bills’ home opener against the Detroit Lions on September 17. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
In Buffalo, the Canadian national anthem is seldom played before NFL games, although it is regularly featured before NHL matches, even when the Sabres compete against U.S. teams. In April, fans at KeyBank Center in Buffalo sang O Canada after a microphone malfunction prior to the Sabres’ playoff game versus the Boston Bruins.
Buffalo stands as the sole U.S.-based NHL team that plays both national anthems during home games against both American and Canadian teams.
Escalating trade war leads to reciprocal tariffs
On Tuesday, Trump enacted five proclamations to prohibit Canadian imports, including alcohol, motorcycles, and numerous other items to the U.S. starting September 29, along with imposing 50 percent tariffs on a range of additional goods beginning the following week.
Auliʻi Cravalho, pictured arriving at the premiere of Moana on July 7 in Los Angeles, is slated to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Bills’ game. (Richard Shotwell/The Associated Press)
This latest development in the intensifying trade conflict between Canada and the U.S. follows the implementation of Canadian retaliatory tariffs, which were promised after trade negotiations collapsed last month.
In clarifying the reasons behind Canada’s decision not to enter into a trade agreement amidst Trump’s significant tariffs on billions of Canadian goods, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated: “We were not willing to compromise Canada’s sovereignty or jeopardize our essential industries.”
The ownership of the Bills by Terry and Kim Pegula began in 2014 when they purchased the team for $1.4 billion US from the estate of the late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson.
NBA Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, who were former stars of the Toronto Raptors, were included among ten limited partners who joined the Bills’ ownership team in 2024. Jozy Altidore, a former U.S. National Team soccer player and MLS champion with Toronto FC, was also listed among the newly announced limited partners.
This marked the first occasion in the franchise’s history that minority owners were integrated into the ownership structure.