Reach out to political parties early on to express interest in holding debates and get their feedback;
Develop a basic debate plan but leave room for candidate input;
Identify the issues where sponsors can be flexible during negotiations and those where they must stand firm;
Ask the candidates to designate a representative with decision-making authority and get reliable contact information for that person;
Conduct impartial and transparent negotiations; and
Use a coin-toss to determine some arrangements fairly.