In a move that had been expected for weeks, Creighton University officially accepted an invitation to join the Big East athletic conference.

The announcement was made via live webcast Wednesday morning.

A crowd of Creighton officials, community members and a handful of students gathered in the Sokol arena on campus to watch a press conference taking place in New York City.

The audience in Omaha cheered when it was announced that Butler, Xavier and Creighton would join the Big East effective July 1, 2013.

The 10 schools in the Big East now have a 12 year contract with the conference, Fox Sports (who will broadcast Big East sports) and Madison Square Garden, where the annual conference tournament will be held.

Gus Johnson of Fox Sports, who hosted the press conference, called it a “historic day” and a “terrific, terrific, terrific announcement.”

Creighton student and men’s golf athlete Daniel McKernan, a College of Business junior, is excited about the move.

“This is a big move for Creighton sports and a step in a new direction, with new challenges and opportunities,” McKernan said. “I am excited because the Big East is a lot bigger of a conference…I think we will get a lot more recognition (as a university).”

His teammate John Rasmussen, an Arts & Sciences senior, agreed.

“I wish I would have red shirted so I could play next year,” Rasmussen said.

For fact sheets of the Big East and a video of Father Lannon announcing the move, visit the Creighton Athletics website here.