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This gesture serves as a highlight of the festivities surrounding the first regular-season game at the $2.1 billion facility. Following the Canadian anthem, Hawaiian-born singer and actress Auli'i Cravalho is scheduled to perform the Star-Spangled Banner. The team has also previously confirmed that the American pop band OneRepublic will provide the halftime entertainment for the prime-time matchup.
Strengthening Ties Across the Border
The decision to include the Canadian anthem reflects the Bills' ongoing efforts to cultivate and maintain a strong following in southern Ontario and Toronto. Located approximately a two-hour drive from Orchard Park, the region remains a key demographic for the franchise. While the inclusion of both anthems is a notable addition to the home opener, it is not entirely unprecedented for the organization.
Historically, the Bills hosted an annual Canadian fan appreciation game under the ownership of Ralph Wilson, typically scheduled around the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday in October. Those specific events were discontinued roughly two decades ago, preceding a six-year stretch where the team played annual regular-season games in Toronto, a series that concluded in 2013. The current ownership, led by Terry Pegula, also oversees the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, a franchise that has maintained a long-standing tradition of performing both the Canadian and American anthems at every home game since its founding in 1970.
