Schools: Hosting presidential debates costly, but worth it
On top of the hefty price tag, the university will have to deal with the security challenge of having thousands of students, media and visitors attending watch parties and other campus activities surrounding the debate.
The Secret Service is in charge of the security in the enclosed perimeter of the debate hall, but Hopkins said he hopes the state and other universities will help local jurisdictions beef up security.
Though the event is a mine field of potential problems, it brings "millions and millions" of media hits from around the world, said Melissa Connolly, a spokeswoman at Hofstra University, which has hosted two debates and is an alternate for this election cycle.