O Canada to be performed at Buffalo Bills home opener amid Canada

When the Buffalo Bills christen their new US$2.2 billion football stadium later this month, they’ll pay tribute to the city’s long-standing affinity for its Canadian neighbours on the other side of the Peace Bridge by performing O Canada along with the U.S. national anthem.

“For the first time in Highmark Stadium history, we will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during pregame,” the Buffalo Bills shared on X Wednesday, highlighting Canada’s Barenaked Ladies as performers for the latter.

Auliʻi Cravalho, who voices Moana in the Disney movies of the same name, will sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Sept. 17 game against the Detroit Lions.

For the first time in Highmark Stadium history, we will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during pregame.We can’t wait to have Bills fan Auliʻi Cravalho and @barenakedladies at our home opener! pic.twitter.com/i61I37Jgvp

National Post has inquired whether the organization intends to play the anthem at every regular-season game or just the home opener.

The Bills are owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, also proprietors of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, a club that has performed O Canada at every home game — even those that didn’t feature a Canadian team. The practice began upon the team’s founding in 1970, as a nod to the many fans co-owner Seymour Knox III knew they would attract from the nearby lower Niagara and St. Catharines area in Ontario.

When anthem singer Cami Clune’s microphone failed during a playoff game earlier this year, the Sabres faithful were quick to pick up the anthem and sing it to completion.

Fun fact: the Sabres were named by a Canadian — Toronto filmmaker Harry Cole, who entered and won a 1969 contest to name the team — and Knox said he specifically chose the Canadian English spelling of the word to honour the Canadian fans, according to The Hockey Writers. (The swords are sabers in the U.S.)

Minor league baseball team the Buffalo Bisons, the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, and the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits also perform O Canada before home games.

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