NHL All-star game = marketing scam

So I live in Montreal and today I went to visit the installations of the NHL allstar game and I can say that it is ridiculous. Its only one huge scam to make money off of people. You have tents that you must pay 15$ to enter but all thats inside are stores selling hockey jerseys and otehr derived products and loads of people selling cards and pins. These 'celebrations' are just ways to get more money off the fans, not a way to thank them like it should be.

Also the ticket prices are ridiculously high and most of the players dont even want to show up in order to have a break or to not get injured (that I can understand though.

As much as I appreciate the skill tests and the game I beleive that this event should not exist anymore as it is solely an event to make money, not an event for the fans.

It's an absolute joke that there are no Red Wings players going to the All-Star game.CJL182

What? I have not looked at the roster but that's just wrong. Take the voting away from the fans. there must be a better way to do this.

On topic the reason for All-Star games is to get exposure which the NHL desperately needs.

Yeah, the biggest motive for the all star game in any sport is to make more money. The league will say it's a game for the fans and all that, which it somewhat can be, but it won't happen unless there's an opportunity to make money lol. I'm all for the league making more money and gaining positive exposure, but charging you just so to allow you to buy something is really lame lol. I'm more ticked off at how the voting was done and that Lidstrom and Datsyuk are going to be suspended 1 game for not showing up in Montreal. The whole system of representatives from each team is ridiculous as well. I hate the Red Wings, but I have nothing but respect for the organization since they're just so damn successful lol. It's an absolute joke that there are no Red Wings players going to the All-Star game. I'm VERY happy that Patrick Marleau is going because he actually deserves the honor, but having Marleau go instead of say Zetterberg goes against the system of representing all of the teams. The system doesn't make sense.CJL182

The red wings have no representatives since the two players that were chosen arent going.

The red wings have no representatives since the two players that were chosen arent going. Sw33t_D

I know, and they got suspended 1 game for it. I was saying that since they have the "represent every team" aspect when they pick the reserve players, why wasn't Zetterberg picked over Marleau. I've heard speculation that Rafalski was asked to replace Lidstrom, but he declined and Robidas was next in line. If that was the case, why isn't Rafalski being suspended? If that's not the case, how the hell did Robidas get picked over Rafalski? lol