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It appears that UMass-Lowell will become the newest member of the NCAA Division I ranks and a member of the America East Conference.
According to multiple sources, UMass-Lowell will be going D-I in all sports and joining America East.Announcement expected this week.
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) February 13, 2013
The River Hawks currently compete on the Division-II level in the Northeast-10 Conference, but do play Division-I hockey in Hockey East.
Their basketball team plays in the 6,500 seat Tsongas Center, which was opened in 1998 and also played host to Lowell's American Hockey League affiliate until 2010.
Adding UMass-Lowell will help solidify the America East Conference which is set to lose Boston University to the Patriot League at the end of this season. Both Albany and Stony Brook have been rumored to be heading elsewhere with the Colonial Athletic Association being a likely destination.
This addition will keep the conference at nine members for the 2013-14 season should nothing else change.