Niagara Falls hosts first-ever Buffalo Bills NFL draft pick announcement in Canada

Niagara Falls was decked out in blue and red today to celebrate NFL draft day as the Buffalo Bills broadcast a live draft pick announcement from the “Misty City.”

The event, held during day three of the NFL draft, marked the first time the Bills have announced a pick north of the border. With the announcement broadcast across the United States, the Niagara Parks Commission hopes the exposure translates into “Super Bowl-sized” support for the region this summer.

“To have the NFL Draft show from here — in the U.S. is very significant for us,” said David Adames of the Niagara Parks Commission.

“This is a wonderful bi-national zone here that we’re in. So we’ve got friends and relatives on both sides of the border. So again, to have the draft here, we’re expecting more visitors to come up and explore Niagara Parks, explore Ontario this summer.”

According to the Buffalo Bills organization, the mission was to find a “cool and iconic” venue in Canada. They settled on a location outside the Table Rock Centre overlooking Niagara Falls.

“Many of our fans are located in southern Ontario and we really wanted to do something for them that celebrates our neighbours to the north and these fans that travel to Orchard Park to support us on game day,” said Brianna Rossi, a representative for the Bills.

Fans gathered at the falls were happy to be part of the experience, though many were still reliving the highs and lows of last season.

“Last season ended tough but I think they’ll come back stronger this year, a little bit more healthy,” one fan said. “I think that was a problem at the end of the season last year, the injuries caught up with us.”

Another long-time supporter, who has been a fan since the team’s inception when he was eight years old, said the proximity between the two cities makes the border feel non-existent.

One fan had a bold prediction for the upcoming year: “We’re going to win the Super Bowl this year — they have to.”

The festivities included an appearance by Billy Buffalo, the team’s mascot. When asked if he would consider becoming a Canadian citizen, the mascot indicated he is a fan of the falls but remains “on the fence” about changing his citizenship.

The Buffalo Bills regular season is scheduled to begin in September 2026.

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