Highmark Stadium will feature “O Canada” during the Buffalo Bills home opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 17, according to an announcement by the organization. The performance highlights a tradition shared across Buffalo sports franchises.
Musical Lineup for the Home Opener
The Barenaked Ladies will perform “O Canada” ahead of kickoff, according to the team. Auliʻi Cravalho, known as the voice of the main character in the “Moana” films, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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Playing both anthems mirrors the standard pregame protocol used by other local professional sports organizations.
Did you know? Local Buffalo sports franchises like the Sabres, Bisons, and Bandits routinely play both the American and Canadian national anthems before home games, a regional tradition the Bills are continuing at Highmark Stadium.
Stadium Amenities and Fan Concerns
The anthem announcement arrives alongside scrutiny over the new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium. In August, the organization hosted 51,807 season ticket holders for a training camp practice inside the venue, marking a record attendance for an event at the site.
However, the reveal generated immediate criticism from attendees on social media regarding obstructed sightlines. Fans posted photographs and videos showing structural elements blocking views of the field, particularly near the end zones.
“Whoever designed the new Bills stadium wasn’t very keen to detail,” one fan posted on social media alongside images of the obstructed field. “Imagine paying tens of thousands on PSLs and season tickets and walk into a view like this.”
According to season ticket holder Melissa Wroblewski, she was assured by the organization prior to the event that her new seats would be free from visual impediments. Upon arrival, she discovered stair railings blocked portions of her view.
“We asked if there was going to be an obstruction multiple times because it was a concern,” Wroblewski said. “We were told that the image was just a rendering and there would be no obstruction.”
Pricing and Seating Adjustments
Other attendees expressed frustration over Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs) pricing them out of comparable locations to their previous seats. Kevin Kruger, a season ticket holder since 2019, told The Post that his historical lower-bowl section carried a significant financial increase.
“My previous season tickets in the last stadium were in a lower section and were more expensive, and they first tried to sell me my old seats, which would have cost $5,000 per seat for the PSL and $2,500 per seat for the season,” Kruger said. “So my starting cost to be a season ticket holder in my old seats would be $15,000.”
In response to fan feedback, the organization stated it is working to refine details before the home opener. Additionally, the team elected to replace the playing surface ahead of the first three home games scheduled for Weeks 2 through 4.
“We’re committed to having the best possible playing surface for our players,” president of business operations Pete Guelli said in a statement. “With a stretch of three consecutive home games early in the season, we decided it was the appropriate time to re-sod our field.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Bills play “O Canada” at Highmark Stadium?
The organization announced that “O Canada” will be performed during the home opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Who is performing the national anthems?
According to the team, the Barenaked Ladies will perform “O Canada,” and Auliʻi Cravalho will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Why is the team replacing the field?
Pete Guelli, president of business operations, stated that the organization decided to re-sod the field to ensure the best possible playing surface ahead of three consecutive home games early in the season.
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