[norcard10]

Yvonne, would it be fair to say that the core of the challenge is "how can Stanford fund and support an athletic program without Power 5 football money?"

That's pretty much how I see it. In fact, the challenge is "how can Stanford fund and support an elite athletic program without Power 5 football money"?"

It would be so easy.  The men's volleyball and other programs came back due to alumni stepping in. We have rich alumni.  Some typing in this thread have enough to bankroll expenses easily.  It's a matter of if the University will prioritize it too.

I think you underestimate the challenge of funding elite athletics without Power 5 football media revenue. 

Stanford would be looking to replace $20M or more in Power 5 media revenue each year. That would require an extra endowment (above what Athletics already has) of ~$500M. Seems like a tall order.

Even with the current football money, the University is subsidizing the AD. From the Buck/Cardinal Club report that 82lsju cited, it appears to be a $10M subsidy in 2021-22. I don't know if that happens in perpetuity. I could see Stanford sports shrinking from 36 to 20-25.

And how much of that $20M is actually profit after football related expenses? I doubt much. I still contend if you were to ask alumni of these nonrevenue sports programs to foot the bill, it would happen.

[norcard10]

Yvonne, would it be fair to say that the core of the challenge is "how can Stanford fund and support an athletic program without Power 5 football money?"

That's pretty much how I see it. In fact, the challenge is "how can Stanford fund and support an elite athletic program without Power 5 football money"?"

It would be so easy.  The men's volleyball and other programs came back due to alumni stepping in. We have rich alumni.  Some typing in this thread have enough to bankroll expenses easily.  It's a matter of if the University will prioritize it too.

I think you underestimate the challenge of funding elite athletics without Power 5 football media revenue. 

Stanford would be looking to replace $20M or more in Power 5 media revenue each year. That would require an extra endowment (above what Athletics already has) of ~$500M. Seems like a tall order.

Even with the current football money, the University is subsidizing the AD. From the Buck/Cardinal Club report that 82lsju cited, it appears to be a $10M subsidy in 2021-22. I don't know if that happens in perpetuity. I could see Stanford sports shrinking from 36 to 20-25.

And how much of that $20M is actually profit after football related expenses? I doubt much. I still contend if you were to ask alumni of these nonrevenue sports programs to foot the bill, it would happen.