Video Governor Hochul, Buffalo Bills and Erie County Announce Completion of $2.1 Billion Highmark Stadium NY Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Buffalo Bills new Highmark Stadium
The Buffalo Bills adding "O Canada" to the pregame festivities at the Highmark Stadium opener has fans singing two different tunes.
The team announced Wednesday that the Canadian national anthem will be played by The Barenaked Ladies before next Thursday's game against the Detroit Lions as the Buffalo region officially opens its new $2.2 billion stadium. Auliʻi Cravalho, the voice of "Moana," will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump continue to battle it out over tariffs, the Bills will acknowledge their Canadian fans who cross the border to use their season tickets and spend their money in the United States. As of 2025, it was estimated that Canadians held 8,000 Bills season tickets. At that same time, 18% of Highmark Stadium personal seat license deposits were credited to Canadians.
CANADIAN PM TELLS TRUMP TO 'STOP TRYING TO BE TOUGH' IN TRADE FIGHT
What factors led to the Bills deciding to include "O Canada" in its plan for an historic night in Buffalo history? It's unclear. OutKick reached out to the Bills to ask that question, but we have yet to hear back from the team. We would also be interested to know if the Bills plan to make "O Canada" a permanent addition to Bills games or if this is a one-time deal.
A fan wears a Buffalo hat during the Bills' preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Aug. 27, 2026. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Last year, even as Canada and Trump were feuding, the team was focused on making Canada a priority.
‘CAPTAIN CANADA’ FIREBRAND UNLOADS ON TRUMP WITH PROFANE ONE-LINER AS TRADE WAR ESCALATES
"Regardless of the climate, we’re going into Toronto," Pete Guelli, the Bills’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, told the New York Times last year. "The passion for the Bills in that market has not subsided at all with what’s been happening."
How are fans reacting to the news that the Canadian national anthem will be played at the Highmark opener? It's a mixed bag.
"I am Canadian. This is stupid. You shouldn’t be playing the Canadian anthem. We don’t deserve your kindness at this moment. God bless, America," one Bills fan wrote on X.
"As a Canadian season ticket holder I appreciate this. Might be unnecessary but given the stupidity happening between our respective national governments [its] a sign of goodwill," wrote another.
OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
That said, it hasn't been sunshine and roses when the Star Spangled Banner has been played at Canadian sporting events. At the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, Canadians booed the anthem in Montreal as an American flag was projected onto the ice. Then, this summer, Canadians booed the U.S. flag during a World Cup ceremony at a match in Toronto.
The view of the field at Highmark Stadium from section C208 before the Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers preseason game on Aug. 15, 2026. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
How will Bills fans react to an anthem being played when the teams on the field aren't from Canada? The prevailing theory is that fans will just go along with it because it's the neighborly thing to do, but that's to be seen.
Some Bills fans won't soon forget what nearly happened to their beloved team during the mid-2000s.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
"They had no problem trying to steal our team. Asinine decision," Bills Mafia member Gary Castine wrote on X.
For those that might not remember, there was a time when the possibility of the Toronto Bills was a legitimate concern for fans. The Bills Toronto Series was played from 2008-2012 at the Rogers Centre. It was viewed as a test run for the NFL to relocate the team to Toronto.
A general view of game action during the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets on Dec. 3, 2009, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Jets defeated the Bills 19-13. (Getty Images)
TRUMP RENAMES LAKE ONTARIO ‘LAKE AMERICA’ AMID INTENSIFYING US-CANADA TRADE DISPUTE
The Bills finished the Toronto series with a 1-5 record, and the experiment was viewed as a disaster. Former starting center Eric Wood called the games "a joke."
For Castine, he hasn't forgotten what nearly happened to his team. "Why are you getting political? Stupid decision," he wrote to the Bills on X. "I’ve loved the Bills for 70 years and made 2 generations die hard bills fans. This sucks. Nothing against Canada but are they singing the USA national anthem at Maple Leaf games?"
Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content of OutKick.
