‘All about the business’ – Bills COO defends playing Canadian national anthem on American soil

Buffalo Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli defended the team's decision to play the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, during their first regular season game in the newly built Highmark Stadium. The Bills secured a 41-31 victory over the Detroit Lions, but some fans were taken aback by the anthem choice. Guelli explained that the anthem was part of a broader marketing strategy aimed at Southern Ontario and Toronto, emphasizing that this approach has been an integral part of the team's business model for some time.

The COO noted that Buffalo's small market positioning is compensated by the larger fan base when the Greater Toronto Area is considered, making it one of the top-five NFL markets. Despite potential backlash, the Bills are not planning to apologize or alter their marketing efforts.