Stanford drops 11 sports to cut costs during pandemic

(AP) Stanford is dropping 11 sports amid financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The school announced it will discontinue men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling after the 2020-21 academic year. Stanford also is eliminating 20 support staff positions.

Stanford projected a deficit of more than $25 million in the 2021 fiscal year and a shortfall of nearly $70 million over the next three years due to the pandemic.

The school estimated the cost of sustaining the 11 sports permanently would exceed $200 million.