Ax to grind? Hatchet tossing comes to town
Two venues set to open featuring competition born in Canada
A new sport is coming to Denver: ax throwing.
Two recreational ax-throwing venues opening this summer are trying to prove that Canadian backyard shenanigans can be as popular as bowling and pub darts, with a little more risk.
In large open rooms, pairs of competitors square off inside metal cages that protect spectators — perhaps beers in hand — from hatchets flying toward large wooden targets.
The owners hope to capitalize on a growing national trend, captivating corporate team-bonding groups, competitive ax throwers, bachelorette parties and downtown bar-hoppers with what they call an exciting new way to spend a Saturday night.
Downtown Art Gallery and Axe Room was the first to market with a soft opening last Friday. For now, the 5,600square-foot art gallery and ax-throwing venue at 2000 Lawrence St. in Lower Downtown is only open to scheduled groups. Patrons each pay $35 for a threehour session.
Founder and owner Peter Lalor said he expects Axe Room to be fully open by mid-July, although the venue’s liquor license, which will allow him to serve the beers from local breweries on tap, could take anywhere from two to six months to obtain. Until then, he’s sending customers down the stairs to Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery.
Until Denver gets “into the swing of ax throwing,” Lalor said his company will focus on group events, such as bachelor parties and corporate outings. After the grand opening, walk-ins will be welcome as well.
“Essentially, think about darts,” Lalor said, describing the activity. “You throw and compete against your group.”
Organized ax throwing has gained popularity across North America in the past two years, according to several sources, but traces its formal roots to a couple of bored Canadians tossing hatchets at a tree a decade ago. Lalor, a retired Marine, recognized it as a business opportunity after trying another company’s spin on the sport at a bachelor party in New York and deciding he had “enough” of working in finance.
“There’s no question that they’re starting to pop up all over the U.S.,” Lalor said. “It was sort of an interesting thing to fumble into.”
The art element of Axe Room, Lalor said, gives him space to showcase local talent. Artists will be able to use the venue’s wall space, as well as spray paint the throwing cages.
The other venue, Bad Axe Throwing, is considered a national leader in the sport and will open its third U.S. location in metro Denver in August.
Bad Axe founder and owner Mario Zelaya said he hopes the 2,500-square-foot space at 845 E. 73rd Ave. in Adams County will become a destination for people looking “to get outside their comfort zone, have a beer and throw some axes with people who you normally wouldn’t talk to at work.”
A drop-in session at Bad Axe runs $20 per hour. Group events are $44 per person.
Zelaya said Denver was at the top of Bad
Axe’s list for a new location due to the heavy tech presence. Tech workers, he said, are typically the first customers to try the sport as a team-building activity.
“It’s the one thing that is always consistent – technology companies come first,” Zelaya said. “A lot of these tech companies tend to employ people of a younger generation who want to have a stress reliever.”
Bad Axe has set a tentative opening for the second week of August, though Zelaya hopes he can open the warehouse location sooner. He’s looking to allow pa- trons to bring their own alcohol to the venue. If not, he’ll apply for a liquor license.
Both companies will start with fewer than 10 employees, including instructors to supervise the throws and ensure proper ax handling. Customers also sign a waiver prior to participating.
“It’s relatively easy,” Lalor said. “The weight of the ax is actually going to get it into the target fairly easily, so really it’s just making sure you don’t rotate the blade and aim it at the bullseye.”
Zelaya said some landlords were reluctant to rent spaces to Bad Axe. And Lalor said he had to work with lawyers and insurers for a long time to make sure they were covered. But the sport has gained credibility in recent years and is safe, according to Zelaya.
“We’ve had hundreds of thousands of customers, and we don’t have a single liability or insurance claim,” Zelaya said. An accident “would have to be something freakish.”
Bad Axe currently has 11 locations, mostly in Canada, with five other leases signed in the U.S. The first two U.S. locations were Chicago and Indianapolis.
Both outfits focus on booking company outings and weekend parties, but Zelaya said he also sees potential in competitive leagues all over the world, with Bad Axe as an industry leader. The company founded the World Axe Throwing League, which provides rules and regulations for 23 member leagues.
“Growing at the rate that we are, (this company) is going to be beneficial to the overall sport because we’re bringing a lot of attention to it.” Zelaya said. “We want to bring it to every corner of the world.”
Lalor and Zelaya believe the sport has a strong potential for growth. Zelaya has plans to televise competitive ax throwing and thinks it could develop to a scale similar to bowling. Lalor said he believes the sport gained traction because of its social nature.
“It’s a very easy thing to pick up, and it’s thrilling and exciting,” Zelaya said. “It’s going to be a big hit.”