Why Buffalo Bills played the Canadian national anthem

Many Americans at the game expressed their own frustrations with the escalating trade war, and the way it has divided the two neighbours.

For Drew Grier, an American who lives eight minutes from the stadium, “the anthem playing tonight is a core part of who we are as a border city”.

At a Buffalo Sabres playoff ice hockey game in April, a microphone died while the Canadian anthem was being sung and the audience’s voices filled in.

“You sang the Canadian anthem because it needed to happen,” Grier said.

Canadian Blake Parnham recalled that moment: “I was sobbing watching the game at home because I felt so vindicated, that Buffalo is different.”

He couldn’t make it to Buffalo for the Bills home opener, but he enjoyed it from his elaborately decorated backyard in Keswick, Ontario.

Grier said that singing the Canadian anthem tonight is “not that polarising of a thing”.

“If anyone is polarising it, it’s coming from those outside here, because those of us here, we love Canada,” he said.

But some thought it was a step too far.

“The only acceptable reason to sing that anthem would be if they were playing a Canadian team, but they don’t play any Canadian teams,” posted one fan on social media.

“I don’t think it’s really necessary,” said David Waring, who attended Thursday’s game.