Travel is an issue but maybe it isn't quite as big of an issue as it's made out to be. It costs a lot more to send a football team to Fargo vs a basketball team. NDSU doesn't sponsor tennis, men's soccer or swimming. The MVC doesn't sponsor wrestling. Track, cross country and golf teams would likely never come here unless we hosted a championship meet. That leaves softball, women's soccer and baseball as every other year trips and volleyball and basketball as yearly trips. Of course in a 12 team league travel would be lessened a bit more.
I'm not sure what the issue with football is, NDSU football is not like most programs. It sustains itself and feeds money into the athletic department. I think that is a reason why NDSU has always had strong success in athletics across the the board. Most schools spend a ton of money on football and don't come close to meeting expenses.
I'm not saying you should or need to add NDSU like lakes is doing. The Valley would have a lot of options to look at. I remember posting back on valleytalk and nobody would have anything to do with NDSU, now some are at least open to it. I guess that means we are doing some things right up here.