I don't think anyone is arguing that NHL players don't want to be here because hockey is unpopular. I think the "no one will come to STL" fear is overblown, but it isn't based on how NHLers perceive hockey's popularity in the area. It's the weather, the size of the city compared to some other markets, the crime/poverty in areas pretty damn close to the arena, etc.
I can't criticize. I don't dislike St. Louis and I grew up in the suburbs. But I prefer living in Colorado as an adult (even though it is financially more difficult). If I had millions of dollars, choosing a city over St. Louis would be a no-brainer to me.
I wasn't suggesting you are chained down to the city and forced to live in the hood. Pretty sure all those people in STL who have millions of dollars do just fine and the athletes don't normally stay in the off-season. I mean theres lots of boring / poverty filled cities that sports stadiums are at. This isn't a st louis thing.
Two of the top 25 richest suburbs in major cities the USA are in STL. I believe it was Ladue and Creve Coeur.
I lived in CO, just outside of Denver for well more than half my life. I was born there. I saw it go from a great place to live to over-crowded and super expensive. So my perception of it is a bit different from people who arent natives. I still like it but I don't miss living there. And just like STL theres bad spots. The KKK and the MS-13 gang have a big presence and history there. I have a friend that got beat up on the 16th street mall on a Saturday evening at 6pm with tons of people around and they took his wallet. S**t happens everywhere.
But like STL, I have spent a lot of time there and I have lived in both places I don't think I would personally be upset making millions of dollars playing as a pro athlete in either town. In the offseason I could do what I wanted. During the season I would think I would be more worried about winning a championship than where I am going after the game or what place in town I am going to hang out at on my day off.
Just saying it doesn't really matter where your team's home is. Especially as an athlete. You can live in the posh areas of any city during the season, retire in your 30s or 40s and go live in your paradise. Not every player needs downtown clubs and such to go party at after games. It really just depends on who you are. But there are in fact lots of millionares that live in and like STL. Just like I am sure there are some in Detroit, Chicago and other "bad" cities in the US. Maybe you should email them and tell them they aren't being a millionare correctly. Lol.