Would the Horizon League consider UMKC? | HORIZON LEAGUE FANS FORUM

true2theroos
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Would the Horizon League consider UMKC? Nov 12, 2023 14:16:31 GMT -6 via mobile ougrizz05 likes this

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Post by true2theroos on Nov 12, 2023 14:16:31 GMT -6

Hello,

As an alum and fan of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, I’m a little pessimistic about the future of our current athletic conference, the Summit League. North Dakota State and South Dakota State are potential flight risks depending on what happens with the Pac-12 and MWC, and St. Thomas’ aspirations makes it inevitable that they will leave at some point.

I’ve always thought that the Horizon League is the best institutional fit for UMKC due to the number of public universities in major U.S. cities throughout the midwest, especially those that are part of larger state systems. Additionally, I think we’d be a strong candidate in the future for a few reasons:

• We’re in the process of finalizing plans for a new 5,000-seat arena and practice facility for our basketball programs as part of a larger campus-wide master plan
• UMKC is a top 250 university according to US News and will soon be an R1 research institution
• The Horizon League would unlock the Kansas City market for undergrad recruiting purposes and provide closer away games for Green Bay and Milwaukee

I enjoyed our game against the Phoenix last year and appreciated that I could watch the game with ESPN+. Do any of you see the Horizon League expanding in the future? If so, I hope you all consider the Roos!

ougrizz05
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Would the Horizon League consider UMKC? Nov 13, 2023 12:08:31 GMT -6

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Post by ougrizz05 on Nov 13, 2023 12:08:31 GMT -6

Hello True2theroos,

I have not heard anything about a potential move to the Horizon for UMKC. I think the institutional profile of UMKC does seem similar to several Horizon League institutions. It seems like UNO and UMKC have a different profile than the rest of the Summit. However, now it seems like conference affiliation expectations have changed starting at the Power 5/6 level on down. I remember UMKC during OU's Summit League days but have stopped following them. From what you are saying, there seems to be value there for sure with the academic background, campus updates, international airport, public urban institution, etc.

On the other hand, the distance from UMKC to much of the league (OU, UDM, CSU, RM, YSU, GB, UWM) is significant. One of the major benefits of Horizon League membership is a fairly compact geography. Entire teams taking a bus to KC, and vice vera, in the middle of winter is a significant amount of travel and time away from classes, and campus communities overall. Of course, it looks like with the PAC 12 changes, there will be another round of upcoming conference realignment in some way, and then things will change too. If UMKC were closer, I'd say there would be a lot more interest if there is any at all.

Last Edit: Nov 13, 2023 12:33:36 GMT -6 by ougrizz05

true2theroos
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Would the Horizon League consider UMKC? Nov 13, 2023 17:48:45 GMT -6 via mobile ougrizz05 likes this

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Post by true2theroos on Nov 13, 2023 17:48:45 GMT -6

Nov 13, 2023 12:08:31 GMT -6 ougrizz05 said:

Hello True2theroos,

I have not heard anything about a potential move to the Horizon for UMKC. I think the institutional profile of UMKC does seem similar to several Horizon League institutions. It seems like UNO and UMKC have a different profile than the rest of the Summit. However, now it seems like conference affiliation expectations have changed starting at the Power 5/6 level on down. I remember UMKC during OU's Summit League days but have stopped following them. From what you are saying, there seems to be value there for sure with the academic background, campus updates, international airport, public urban institution, etc.

On the other hand, the distance from UMKC to much of the league (OU, UDM, CSU, RM, YSU, GB, UWM) is significant. One of the major benefits of Horizon League membership is a fairly compact geography. Entire teams taking a bus to KC, and vice vera, in the middle of winter is a significant amount of travel and time away from classes, and campus communities overall. Of course, it looks like with the PAC 12 changes, there will be another round of upcoming conference realignment in some way, and then things will change too. If UMKC were closer, I'd say there would be a lot more interest if there is any at all.

Hi OU Grizz, those are all very good points. I think our chances of joining the Horizon League diminished once Robert Morris joined. I just also liked the idea of road trips to big cities such as Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, etc.

Best of luck to the Golden Grizzlies this season; I always respected your program when we’d compete in the Summit together. Those teams with Hamilton and Hudson (an ex-Roo no less) were very stout.