Robert Morris basketball coming to Sears Centre

The Robert Morris University men’s basketball team will call the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estate home for their upcoming season.

The school announced Monday that the team will play eight home games at the arena, starting with their season opener at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against Trinity International University of Deerfield. Tickets for all games are $5 for adults and free for children under the age of 18 and Robert Morris students, staff and alumni.

Robert Morris University President Michael Viollt said the decision to play at the Sears Centre was made a few months ago.

“It’s been in the works for a couple of years really,” he said. “We decided this was the time.”

For the past three years the team has played at Loyola University’s Gentile Center.

Viollt said the team was looking for an arena that was “first class” with easy access to the highway, ample parking and a seating capacity of at least 5,000. The Sears Centre, he said, fulfilled all those requirements.

“We think (by playing at the Sears Centre) we can grow a better schedule down the road,” he said.

The facility also will be used by the Robert Morris University women’s basketball team for a few home games, including one at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Ben Gibbs, general manager of the Sears Centre, said the men’s team has only agreed to use the facility for a year, but hopes they will want to stay for the long-term.

“We’re excited to have them,” he said. “With the NBA not around I think all our basketball events are going to benefit from that. We’re hopeful that we have perfect timing, when people are craving basketball.”

Gibbs said he also is excited to introduce new guests to the Sears Centre.

“We love the opportunity to show off the building,” he said.

The arena already hosts basketball events twice a year, including the Chicago Invitational Challenge college tournament, which will be held on Nov. 25 and 26 this year, and a high school tournament every January. Gibbs said both tournaments have been successful.

The Robert Morris University men’s basketball team has been under the direction of Coach Al Bruehl for more than a decade, and plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. They have reached the NAIA national tournament nine times since 2000 and won the CCAC championship 11 times since 1998.