From the National Hockey League’s (NHL) All-Star weekend to the National Football League’s (NFL) Pro Bowl, most professional sports have some sort of event where the best talent around the league is displayed for viewers to enjoy. All-Star events are something fans look forward to each year, and they are meant to be a fun and entertaining activity. However, recent changes that some leagues have made to their All-Star activities have caused displeasure and other mixed opinions among sports fans.

Many fans of all sports have increasingly shown their distaste for the ways that All-Star events have been executed throughout recent years. A large issue seems to stem from the players themselves. In the past, most All-Star games were competitive, and players would often try to make their level of play stand out even amongst other great players. However, as years go by, there seems to be less and less passionate participation in these events. In most sports, the All-Star game has become immensely less competitive. For example, in the 2015-16 season, the NHL changed the format of their All-Star game from 5-on-5 to 3-on-3, which is a much less competitive style of play. Competitiveness is something that most fans find entertaining, so taking it out of the All-Star game also takes out the entertainment. 

“I feel like All-Star games have become less competitive recently. Due to this, they have become less entertaining and less enjoyable to watch,” sophomore Noah Fessides said.

Most sports have also seen a decline in players’ willingness to participate in the All-Star event. Many players believe that it is a waste of time and a risk of injury. One example of players opting out of the All-Star game completely is the Major League Baseball’s Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander in 2023. Also, the NHL’s Alexander Ovechkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Sidney Crosby have sat out of the contest multiple times for various reasons. Fortunately, the NHL has implemented a rule that issues players suspensions if they choose to not compete in the All-Star game, but this has not stopped many players from sitting out. Players choosing to not play in All-Star games is extremely detrimental to the fun and entertainment of the event. Fans will be less likely to enjoy these events if their favorite players are not even competing.

“I believe that it is in the best interest of athletes [to opt out] if they feel they are going to be injured. However, I would like to see all of the best athletes compete together in one event,” senior Luke Snavely said.

The NFL has also made some major changes to its annual Pro Bowl. In the past, the Pro Bowl consisted of a game between the best players from each conference of the league. As with other sports, the Pro Bowl has also become less competitive. Large changes this year have caused discord within the football community, with the most notable change being that the game is no longer a traditional football game, and is now a flag football game. Many fans find this extremely disappointing, as the competitiveness of a flag football Pro Bowl game is nearly nonexistent compared to that of a physical and intense football game, as seen in the regular season of the NFL.

“I feel that [the Pro Bowl] is not as entertaining as it used to be, and it does not give the same joy as previous years,” junior Jaden Winterhalter said.