Buffalo Bills lean into their Canadian audience with Barenaked Ladies’ performance of ‘O Canada’

Buffalo Bills lean into their Canadian audience with Barenaked Ladies’ performance of O Canada ARISA VALYEAR PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 UPDATED YESTERDAY Open this photo in gallery: Barenaked Ladies perform the Canadian national anthem before an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sept. 17. JEFFREY T. BARNES/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. The Scarborough-born Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies took to the field at the newly constructed Highmark Stadium near Buffalo, New York, tonight during the NFL team’s home opener to perform O Canada – despite the game featuring no Canadian team. Before the first whistle – a match-up between the Bills and the Detroit Lions – singer Ed Robertson and his bandmates launched into an acapella rendition of the Canadian national anthem amid a time of tense geopolitical relations and an escalating trade war between Canada and the United States. The receptive crowd offered whoops and claps of support at the song’s conclusion. The event was part of a home opener celebration for the Bills’ first home game of the season in their new arena. Crews broke ground on the upgraded US $2.2-billion facility in Orchard Park, N.Y., in 2023 and the project was completed in June. The national anthem initiative was announced on September 9 via the football team’s Instagram. “For the first time in Highmark Stadium history, we will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during the pregame,” said the post. Commenters on both sides of the border largely supported the gesture. “The Bills may mend U.S.-Canada relations with this move,” one poster said. “Thank you for recognizing our wonderful neighbours, our Canadian players and our fabulous Canadian fan base!” said another. It’s not the first time O Canada was sung on U.S. soil during a sports game in the absence of a Canadian team. At Buffalo’s KeyBank Centre, it’s standard practice for both national anthems to be sung during National Hockey League games, given the city’s proximity to the border and the considerable share of Canadian ticketholders. Earlier this year, singer Cami Clune made headlines when, during a playoff game between the Sabres and the Boston Bruins, her microphone malfunctioned during the Canadian anthem. Fans stepped in to help her finish the performance, making for a heartwarming…