For a school that has dramatically invested in the future of their athletics, the benefits may soon be on the way.
According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Robert Morris University is a potential candidate to join the Horizon League and that a final decision is expected to occur some point within the next month.
I considered the possibility about two months ago, and that idea may be coming to fruition.
However, the Horizon League is not the only conference that could add the Colonials.
Alan Saunders of Pittsburgh Sports Now reported that the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is another conference that could be Robert Morris' new home.
Robert Morris has been a member of the Northeast Conference since its conception in 1981.
If Robert Morris joins the Horizon League, here is what their travel situation would look like:
Wolstein Center - Cleveland, OH (Cleveland State - 124 miles)
Calihan Hall - Detroit, MI (Detroit Mercy - 283 miles)
Resch Center - Ashwaubenon, WI (Green Bay - 658 miles)
Credit Union 1 Arena - Chicago, IL (Illinois-Chicago - 453 miles)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum - Indianapolis, IN (IUPUI - 363 miles)
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee - 544 miles)
BB&T Arena - Highland Heights, KY (Northern Kentucky - 299 miles)
Athletics Center O'Rena - Rochester, MI (Oakland - 307 miles)
Allen County Coliseum - Fort Wayne, IN (Purdue-Fort Wayne - 313 miles)
Nutter Center - Fairborn, OH (Wright State - 254 miles)
Beeghly Center - Youngstown, OH (Youngstown State - 60 miles)
Although the travel aspect of such a move makes sense compared to the Northeast Conference, the Horizon League would be a huge jump in competition for the Colonials.
As Saunders points out, the 4,000-seat UPMC Events Center would be the smallest capacity in the league.
Speaking from experience, as I have attended games at four Horizon League venues, the UPMC Events Center is a better facility than the Wolstein Center, Beeghly Center and Indiana Farmers Coliseum. BB&T Arena, home of the Northern Kentucky Norse, is a step up from the UPMC Events Center.
If Robert Morris were to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, here is what travel would look like:
Koessler Athletic Center - Buffalo, NY (Canisius - 222 miles)
Alumni Hall - Fairfield, CT (Fairfield - 439 miles)
Hynes Athletic Center - New Rochelle, NY (Iona - 402 miles)
Draddy Gymnasium - Riverdale, NY (Manhattan - 395 miles)
McCann Arena - Poughkeepsie, NY (Marist - 412 miles)
OceanFirst Bank Center - West Long Branch, NJ (Monmouth - 389 miles)
Gallagher Center - Lewiston, NY (Niagara - 236 miles)
People's United Center - Hamden, CT (Quinnipiac - 467 miles)
Alumni Gym - Lawrenceville, NJ (Rider - 347 miles)
Yanitelli Center- Jersey City, NJ (Saint Peter's - 384 miles)
Times Union Center - Albany, NY (Siena - 477 miles)
The MAAC is a little more comparable to the NEC. Monmouth and Quinnipiac were both members of the NEC before departing for the MAAC in 2013.
The arenas of Quinnipiac (built in 2007) and Monmouth (built in 2009) are both very comparable to UPMC Events Center. Just as Robert Morris hosted an ACC opponent in Pitt in 2019, Monmouth will welcome North Carolina in the upcoming season.
Robert Morris has certainly been testing the waters of both conferences over the past few seasons.
Over the past three seasons, the Colonials have faced off against Horizon opponents in Cleveland State, UIC and Youngstown State, while battling with MAAC opponents such as Canisius, Rider and Siena.
There are still many dynamics in play.
As Purdue-Fort Wayne is set to join the Horizon League in July, the league will sit with 11 teams. Robert Morris would make the 12th team, giving the league six even travel pairs. However, it is currently unknown whether the move would take place prior to the 2020-2021 season or the 2021-2022 season.
As for the Colonials' football program, a question remains.
With the 2020 schedule, including the full Northeast Conference schedule, already announced, the university may have to wait to move until the upcoming athletic season is completed. A move would also likely break the annual meeting with the crosstown Duquesne Dukes.
As Ryan Peters of NEC Overtime writes, Monmouth tried to allow their football program to remain an associate member of the conference when they departed, but that move was shut down.
While many questions remain, exciting things are coming for the future of the Robert Morris Colonials.
UPMC > BB&T facts only