For the first time in over two years, Division I hockey was played at the RMU Island Sports Center, as both the men’s and women’s teams were in action. While opening night was was counted as a sellout for both games, the lack of attendance for the women’s contests just one day later on Sunday was a bit surprising.

On the RMU Athletics website, the total attendance for the women’s game on Sunday at 407 fans, and for Saturday’s opening home game there were less than 1,000 fans in the arena. There was so much build up for the games with the school having students lining up for tickets as early as 5 a.m. a few days prior, only for attendance to be lackluster.

RoMo Rush is LIVE #LetsGoBobbyMo pic.twitter.com/T7V1FaQNhh

— RMU Athletics (@RMUAthletics) October 3, 2023

While there was so much support for the programs to make their return, one of the possible biggest reasons why the programs were cut was due to the lack of attendance for the games. So, with the women’s game having a relatively small attendance for the home opener and much smaller even for Sunday’s contest, the students of Robert Morris and the public that so dearly wanted their programs back need to continue to show up to show their support.

If you care about the programs and want them to be here to stay, the Island needs to be sold out every night for Division I hockey.

It will show that the community wants these programs back. The Island needs to be packed every night so that the school knows that the community cares about the programs. The biggest and most important way now to show your support of the programs is to show up when the games happen.

Before the programs were cut, attendance was a concern at the Island as both teams were averaging under 300 fans a game. Now after this weekend, it is concerning that while opening weekend was such a success, the Island was relatively empty compared to just a day prior.

The community wanted these programs back, so, it is time to actually show up and support the Colonials during the regular season. There should at least be 1,000 people there every night for every home game. You wanted the programs back? Then show up for the teams that the community did so much work for that to happen.

Also, for the only DI hockey program in Pittsburgh, there was a lack of local media coverage as well. This is the biggest event at the Island and the fact that there is very little outside media coverage is a shame. There needs to be so much more coverage for the programs that worked so hard to get back.

Long story short, the community and students did so much work to make the programs come back. So, make sure you are about them and show up tp support them. Maybe the school needs to provide transportation to the Island. Nonetheless, it is not a far drive to the Island. It is time to show up and support your Colonials, and make them here to stay.