Sponsors Move Gay Dance From Pond : Event: Promoter suspects increased fees are result of anti-homosexual prejudice. Manager calls that ‘ludicrous.’

Saying they suspect anti-gay prejudice, organizers of a giant gay dance party said Tuesday that they have been slapped with so many restrictions and extra costs by The Pond’s management that they are moving the event to Los Angeles.

But the general manager of the Anaheim arena, Brad Mayne, called the allegations of prejudice “ludicrous.” He said costs escalated as the event grew in size and scope, and added that he is sorry to see it go elsewhere.

Promoters of “Tribal Trek: A Celebration of Pride and Dance” said they will announce at a news conference today that the Sept. 23 event has been moved to Paramount Studios’ back lot because it was “run out” of Orange County.

“I think there is a conservative--and that’s probably a pleasant term--bunch of people at the city of Anaheim and Disney who don’t want to be associated with a gay event,” said Eric Lampel, a Mission Viejo attorney who is working with promoters. “It’s my suspicion because I’m a suspicious guy.”

The event was planned as a dance that would feature recorded music and an appearance by cross-dressing entertainer RuPaul. Promoter Ray Argulo said he met with Pond management in May and was quoted costs of $23,000.

But Argulo said higher costs and new restrictions were imposed last week after a photograph of RuPaul and mention of the event appeared on the front page of The Times Orange County. He said he was told by a representative of the Nederlander Cos., which handles music events at The Pond, that Walt Disney Co. wanted to have the event canceled for fear it could tarnish the image of their National Hockey League franchise, the Mighty Ducks, which play at The Pond.

He said he then learned that Pond costs had ballooned to $98,000 and that guests would receive wristbands that would restrict them to certain areas. For example, someone who had a wristband giving access to the bleachers would not be allowed on the main floor. Another restriction would prohibit alcoholic beverages in the parking lot, where dancing also was to be held.

“I booked the Rose Bowl and put on a rodeo with less restrictions than I had at The Pond,” Argulo said.

Neither a Nederlander nor Mighty Ducks representative could be reached for comment Tuesday, but Pond manager Mayne said he received no pressure from Disney or the city regarding the event.

“The Ducks are a tenant in the facility. They don’t own it, they don’t operate it and they don’t have any input into what events we put into the facility,” Mayne said.

Instead, he said, the higher costs and restrictions were due only to growth of the event’s projected size, with as many as 10,000 now expected to attend.

He said that in early discussions, Tribal Trek had been presented as a dance on the main floor of The Pond with music provided by a disc jockey. It evolved into a party with both a disc jockey and live entertainment that would spill out into 20,000 square feet of the parking lot.

“As they continued to change the complexion of the event, the costs were higher based on what they needed,” Mayne said, adding that he wishes Tribal Trek hadn’t trekked to Paramount. “It’s a disappointment in the fact that we and the city departments have gone through a lot of hoops” to accommodate the event.

Promoter Argulo said that he thinks the dance will be an even bigger success on the New York street of Paramount’s movie back lot. He said that they are being charged about $48,000 less, so ticket prices will be lower, and that singer Grace Jones has replaced RuPaul as headliner.

Officials at Paramount, he said, “are the most non-homophobic people I have met.”