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Buyer’s remorse? Enjoy ‘Billy Donovan Night’

Fans can renegotiate ticket price, arrange buyout at minor league game

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updated 10:21 p.m. ET June 13, 2007

FORT MYERS, Fla. - A minor league baseball team will poke fun at the University of Florida coach who backed out of his deal with the Orlando Magic when the Fort Myers Miracle host “Billy Donovan Night” on June 20.

Just like Donovan escaped his five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Magic, fans can try to negotiate their way out of their ticket purchase.

“It’s something to waffle about,” said Andrew Seymour, assistant general manager and promotions director for the Miracle, a Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins in the Florida State League. “If you’re not seeing entertainment, you can opt out of your contract.”

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The contract, in this case, is the ticket. Fans will have up to the first three innings to restructure their deal, but even that’s negotiable.

The price of the ticket, the seat location and even a buyout can be arranged. Part of the negotiating process will involve making a free throw.

The Miracle will have Fort Myers defense attorney Michael Hornung on site to negotiate settlements. Hornung attended the same high school — St. Agnes on Long Island, N.Y. — as Donovan.

Hornung said he might be more hardline with visiting Tampa Yankees fans.

“If it’s a Yankee fan, I’m going to tell them to go take their seat and sit there for the whole nine innings,” Hornung said. “I have free reign. I’m judge and jury.”

A Fort Myers man who shares the coach’s name is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. After that, waffles — to poke fun at the coach’s “waffling” — will be served. And hair gel, mocking Donovan’s slick look, will be handed out.

A drawing to win free Gators basketball tickets will be used as a “bonus option” to entice fans to honor their contract.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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