This is revisionism. The Daily Evergreen reported this in Fall of 2007. The reason given then was nothing to do with sponsors. Of course the sponsors would have been there for a national event. No, originally Elson Floyd and Michael Tate said "No, it's a Presidential debate or nothing!' assuming somehow that the commission would come back with a Presidential debate. Yeah, our first example of Floyd's decision making.

Also a diss to the WSU staff who put together the bid. And got it! What a moron.