Creighton To Join Big East - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Curt Casper 

OMAHA (KPTM) – After weeks of speculation Creighton University has been announced as a new member of the New Big East Conference.

The BlueJays will be joining the Catholic 7, Butler, and Xavier to form the New Big East. The announcement was made via a Fox Sports Telecast Wednesday Morning.

Hundreds of fans gathered in DJ Sokol Arena to hear the announcement. When the announcement was made the whole crowd erupted in applauds.

With the new conference the Jays will be competing for a Big East title in basketball at Madison Square Garden, home to over 30 years of Big East basketball championships.

The conference also will be joining in a television contract with the recently announced Fox Sports One television channel. Major games, including the Big East tournament will be seen on Fox 42 News. Other sporting events will be broadcast ed on the new sports channel. The television contract includes 12 year deal with Fox Sports.

The original conference was formed in 1979 and four of the original teams, Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, and Seton Hall will be joining Villanova, Marquette and De Paul.

The conference could expand to 12 teams in the future, but no official announcements have been made.

Creighton president Timothy Lannon said Wednesday, "We see this new partnership enhancing the visibility of the university through increased national media exposure."

We will have more on the transition on Wednesday's addition of Fox 42 News at Nine.