I must admit, as an Englishman, I struggle with the MLS All-Star game. Without being too abrasive, to me, it is emblematic of the overly-brash, flashy and somewhat hollow culture that often underpins American sports and society. It’s all show and very little dough, as we would say over here.
That is not to say that it does not have its purposes. Commercially, it certainly. I am sure MLS are very happy with the revenue that it creates, the hum-drum that surrounds it and the attraction of many fringe fans to a big event that puts the very best of the league on show.