The Buffalo Bills have announced that the Canadian anthem will be performed before the team’s home opener later this month.
The Bills announced the decision in an Instagram post Wednesday, noting that it will be the first time in franchise history that both the Canadian and American anthems will be performed prior to a home game.
The move comes amid a trade war with the U.S.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders that effectively banned the import of a number of Canadian products, including alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products.
The Bills’ home opener — their first regular-season game at the newly constructed Highmark Stadium — is scheduled for Sept. 17.
The Barenaked Ladies will perform O Canada, while Auli’i Cravalho, the voice actress of Moana, will perform The Star-Spangled Banner.
At the Keybank Centre, home of the Buffalo Sabres, this however is nothing new. In May, fans sung ‘O Canada’ during a playoff game between the Sabres and Boston Bruins.
