Barenaked Ladies perform ‘O Canada’ for packed house at Bills’ new stadium
As a border city, Buffalo paid tribute to its fanbase by having both the U.S. and Canadian anthems performed with both country’s flags displayed on the field.
The Buffalo Bills showcased their new Highmark Stadium with a memorable first regular-season game against the Detroit Lions, drawing a packed house of enthusiastic fans. The game started with a thrilling touchdown run by Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who completed a 10-play, 85-yard drive. To honor the city's diverse population, both the U.S. and Canadian national anthems were performed during the pregame ceremonies.
The Toronto-based pop group Barenaked Ladies received a warm reception before singing "O, Canada," followed by Auli'i Cravalho, a Hawaiian-born actress and singer, performing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The stadium, valued at $2.1 billion, offered fans an enhanced experience with a new grass carpet, which the Bills had resodded beforehand due to wear and tear. The field's improved performance was evident during the opening drive, as clumps of grass became visible when players made sharp cuts. The new stadium, accommodating over 60,000 spectators, featured a more vertical seating arrangement to provide better views of the action.
The canopy atop the building helped project crowd noise directly onto the field. Fans had been arriving as early as two and three days prior, and despite some drizzle, the excitement remained high as they made their way into the stadium.
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