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The Buffalo Bills played their first regular-season game in their new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, featuring an opening ceremony with performances of both the U.S. and Canadian anthems by Barenaked Ladies and Auli’i Cravalho respectively. The stadium, which has a capacity slightly over 60,000, showcased improved grass quality and innovative fan experiences like light-up bracelets during pre-game festivities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Buffalo Bills hosted the Detroit Lions in their first regular-season game at the newly built $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026, during an NFL Thursday Night Football match. To celebrate and honor their large Canadian fan base, the Barenaked Ladies performed "O Canada" before the game amidst escalating tensions between the U.S. and Canada due to a trade war. The Bills opened with a strong performance led by quarterback Josh Allen, who scored on a 1-yard touchdown run after an impressive 85-yard drive. Both anthems were sung acapella, followed by fireworks and light shows for added fan engagement.
Written for “Bills Home Opener New Stadium” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
The Buffalo Bills even rolled out a new grass carpet in hosting the Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game in their new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.
asserted
Bills → roll → night
Some six minutes in, Bills quarterback Allen capped a 10-play, 85-yard opening drive by scoring on a 1-yard run.
asserted
Allen → cap → run
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.
asserted
flags → pay → field
The Toronto musical group Barenaked Ladies was greeted by a loud cheer before singing “O, Canada.”
asserted
group → greet → cheer
They were followed by Hawaiian-born actress and singer Auli’i Cravalho performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
asserted
They → follow → Banner
U.S. pop group OneRepublic was scheduled to perform at halftime.
asserted
OneRepublic → schedule → halftime
Fireworks went off about 90 minutes before game time and then again during the opening ceremonies.
asserted
Fireworks → go → ceremonies
Fans unfurled three banners with the words Bills and Mafia, and a logo commemorating the stadium’s inaugural season.
asserted
Fans → unfurl → season
An elaborate light show then followed with fans wearing bracelets that blinked, followed by a fireworks display as the Bills offensive starters were introduced, with Allen greeted by a roar and chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!”
asserted
Allen → follow → M
As for the turf, the new grass looked improved.
asserted
grass → look → turf
The Bills chose to resod the entire field ahead of schedule following their preseason finale against Pittsburgh on Aug. 27.
asserted
Bills → choose → Aug.
They did so after the original turf, which had been laid down in October, showed signs of wear and tear, and with large divots having to be replaced during two preseason games and two practices.
asserted
divots → do → games
Bills players indicated after practicing in the stadium on Tuesday that the grass felt firmer, and noticed a larger infill of sand.
asserted
grass → indicate → sand
That was evident in pregame warmups when clumps of sand came up when players made hard cuts on the field.
asserted
players → come → field
During the opening drive, an on-field official was spotted having to tamp down a clump of grass that came up at the 30.
asserted
that → spot → 30
The field was painted for the first time, with the word “BILLS” in large white block letters featured prominently in both end zones over red-painted grass.
asserted
word → paint → grass
The team’s charging Buffalo logo was also added at midfield.
asserted
logo → charge → midfield
The new stadium has a capacity of just over 60,000, about 12,000 less than the old facility which now lies in rubble across the street.
asserted
which → have → street
What’s different is the layout, with the new facility’s seating structure built more vertically in placing viewers more on top of the action.
asserted
structure → ’ → action
The new building also features a canopy, which helps project crowd noise directly on to field.
asserted
which → feature → field
Bills fans began arriving two and three days earlier, with a private lot nearly filled with RVs by Tuesday.
asserted
lot → arrive → Tuesday
And there were lengthy lineups before the gates opened, and despite a slight drizzle that fell.
asserted
that → be → drizzle
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