{"id":895382,"date":"2026-09-17T14:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895382\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T14:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:00:11","slug":"why-bills-sing-canadian-national-anthem-o-canada-before-nfl-games-in-buffalo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895382\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Bills sing Canadian national anthem ‘O Canada’ before NFL games in Buffalo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although the Bills<\/a> play their home games in Buffalo, New York, the team has always had a Canadian feel to it. Now, that connection will Canada will only grow in home games moving forward.<\/p>\n

The Bills are expected to play the Canadian national anthem, along with “The Star Spangled Banner,” before their home games in the 2026 season. While the Bills are technically the only team that plays in New York, since the Giants<\/a> and Jets<\/a> play their games in New Jersey, the team isn’t regarded as a New York team like the other two are.<\/p>\n

Instead, the Bills have a connection with the country of Canada that very few American teams do, in large part due to location. While most Americans may not be expecting “O Canada” before Bills games, Buffalo fans are more than understanding.<\/p>\n

Here’s why the Bills decided to add the Canadian national anthem to their pregame.<\/p>\n

NFL HQ: Live NFL scores<\/a> | Updated NFL standings<\/a> | Full NFL schedule<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Bills sing ‘O Canada’ before games<\/p>\n

Before the regular season began, the Bills announced that it would add “O Canada” to its pregame festivities before they open their new Highmark Stadium against the Detroit Lions<\/a>. That presumably means that the song will be played before every home game this season as well.<\/p>\n

For the first time in Highmark Stadium history, we will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during pregame.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t wait to have Bills fan Auli\u02bbi Cravalho and @barenakedladies<\/a> at our home opener! pic.twitter.com\/i61I37Jgvp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The city of Buffalo is located right along the border of Canada and the United States, making it so that the team has a large number of Canadian fans. As there are no Canadian NFL teams, the only one of the big four leagues where that is the case, many Canadian football fans have adopted the Bills as their team.<\/p>\n

Buffalo’s connection to Canada is widely known, making the Bills and Sabres more closely associated with Canada than other New York teams at times. The Bills even wished the Blue Jays good luck in the World Series last year like they shared a city.<\/p>\n

LET’S GO BLUE JAYS\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f@BlueJays<\/a> x #BillsMafia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/h9Ed2g6Yp7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Buffalo Sabres, the only other professional team in the city, have played “O Canada” before every home game since the team was founded. Now, the Bills appear to be following suit by adding the anthem to their pregames as well.<\/p>\n

‘O Canada’ Lyrics<\/p>\n

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.<\/p>\n