Bills vs Lions: Who is singing the national anthem today? Why is ‘O Canada’ being played? Know the performers
Buffalo’s Home Opener Will Feature Both National Anthems
Bharatmorning.com – The Buffalo Bills will mark their Thursday, September 17 matchup with the Detroit Lions by performing both “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” before kickoff at the new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York.
Although the game is taking place in the United States, the pregame ceremony is intended to recognize the Bills’ longstanding relationship with fans across the Canadian border. Canadian rock group Barenaked Ladies will sing “O Canada,” followed by actor and singer Auliʻi Cravalho performing the U.S. national anthem.
The occasion carries additional meaning as Buffalo opens its regular-season schedule at its new stadium. The franchise has made a point of acknowledging supporters from Southern Ontario, including the Toronto area, where many fans have followed the team for years and make the relatively short trip to Buffalo for games.
Why “O Canada” Is Part of the Ceremony
Buffalo sits less than 100 miles from Toronto, placing one of North America’s largest cities within easy reach of the Bills’ home market. Canadian residents represent a notable share of the club’s Season Ticket Member base, making the anthem selection more than a ceremonial gesture.
Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli said Canadians account for roughly 10% to 15% of the team’s Season Ticket Members on average. He emphasized the importance of Buffalo’s proximity to Toronto for both the franchise and the wider league.
“Having a world class city and one of North America's largest less than 100 miles from Buffalo, it's significant, not only for the Bills, but for the entire National Football League,” Guelli said.
The organization has continued to strengthen its footprint in Canada through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. Its radio network has expanded into Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, while a partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has helped the Bills develop deeper connections throughout the region.
For Canadian fans, the dual-anthem presentation reflects a relationship that has been part of Buffalo football for decades. It also highlights how the team’s identity extends beyond western New York, with cross-border support remaining an important element of its audience.
Barenaked Ladies Return to a Familiar Bills Stage
Barenaked Ladies, the Canadian band chosen to perform “O Canada,” was formed in Scarborough, Ontario, in 1988. The group built a large following on both sides of the border and remains one of Canada’s most recognizable rock acts.
Its catalog includes popular songs such as “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “The Old Apartment” and “If I Had $1,000,000.” The band also created the theme music for the CBS comedy series “The Big Bang Theory.”
The group entered the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and has earned Grammy nominations during its career. Its appearance before the Bills-Lions game is not the band’s first involvement with Buffalo football. In 2009, Barenaked Ladies performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a Bills-New York Jets game at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
That earlier event came during a period when the Bills regularly brought games to Canada, underscoring the franchise’s continuing effort to serve supporters in the Toronto market.
Auliʻi Cravalho Will Perform the U.S. Anthem
After Barenaked Ladies complete the Canadian anthem, Auliʻi Cravalho will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Cravalho is widely known as the voice of Moana in Disney’s animated film “Moana,” a role she returned to for “Moana 2.”
Her performance will close a pregame program designed to connect the Bills’ American home crowd with the Canadian community that has supported the club over many seasons.
Buffalo’s Long History With Canadian Fans
The Bills have previously included both national anthems at home events. Under former owner Ralph Wilson, the team staged Canadian fan appreciation games in Orchard Park, with “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” both included before play began.
Buffalo’s ties to Canada also include the Bills Toronto Series, which ran from 2008 through 2013. During that span, the club played six regular-season contests and two preseason games at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The arrangement ended in 2014 when the team and Rogers Communications concluded the series.
While Bills home games are now centered in Buffalo, the organization’s Canadian connection has remained visible through its fan outreach, broadcasting expansion and league-backed international market efforts. Thursday’s anthem lineup serves as a public acknowledgment of that history at a significant moment for the franchise.
For fans arriving from Ontario as well as those filling the stadium from western New York, the pregame ceremony will offer a reminder that the Bills’ support base has long crossed an international border. The Lions game will therefore begin with a nod to both the team’s new home and the Canadian audience that remains closely connected to it.
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