THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS.
BATL Axe Throwing opened its doors in Houston, Texas this past spring – setting the stage for axe throwing to take over. The Houston metro area has long been known as a hub for creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as a thriving hub for arts, culture, and dining. Naturally, all of those factors make BATL Axe Throwing a perfect fit – and we’re excited to make Houston the home of our first BATL Axe Throwing venue in the Lone Star State, serving the entire area of Greater Houston including The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Baytown, and Conroe.
The Houston Chronicle recently had a feature on BATL Houston, and they summed it up nicely:
“There are few activities that double as lightly competitive neighborhood get-together and skill-building set for the zombie apocalypse, but backyard axe throwing is one. The Heights chapter of the Backyard Axe Throwing League is hard at work bringing the growing sport to Houston…Think of axe throwing as cornhole or darts, but more so. Competitors stand away from a target and hurl axes towards it for points. The axes used are camping hatchets, not full-sized ones or that battleaxe you picked up from the Renaissance Festival.”
This is just the beginning, as BATL Axe Throwing gears up to open new locations in Texas this year in Austin and San Antonio (just to name a few).
Wondering what it is that makes BATL Axe Throwing the premier urban axe throwing destination in North America? Look no further.
WHO WE ARE
It’s been almost 13 years since the BATL Axe Throwing brought urban axe throwing to the masses, using the axe as a tool to bring people together. Back in 2006, a group of friends were bored at a cottage outside of Toronto and decided to throw an axe at a stump. Little did they know that this innocent way to pass the time would soon evolve into the creation of a worldwide sport.
Upon returning home to Toronto, BATL Axe Throwing founder and CEO Matt Wilson decided to set up a target in his backyard and invite some friends over to show them just how cathartic throwing a sharp axe into wood could be. A point system was created, and soon enough a group of 8 friends would meet every week and engage in some friendly competition. 8 friends quickly grew to 16, and 16 quickly grew to 32. Before he knew it, Matt was hosting 2 full leagues of a total of 60+ per night in his backyard, not including all the spectators that would stop by to catch a glimpse of our exciting new sport. Before long, we had to move our operations indoors – which led to opening 10 locations across Canada between 2015-2018. That was just the beginning.
EXPANSION INTO THE US
In 2017, BATL Axe Throwing stepped across the border to open our very first location in the United States. We partnered with Throw Nashville to bring BATL Axe Throwing’s brand of urban axe throwing to Music City, now BATL Nashville, and that would mark the beginning of our US growth. Shortly after, we teamed forces with Thunderbolt Axe Throwing to bring BATL Axe Throwing’s brand of urban axe throwing to the Chicago Masses. It instantly caught on in the windy city, and BATL Chicago has been a driving force in the community or Irving Park ever since. In 2018, we opened the doors to BATL Novi, bringing axe throwing to metro Detroit. Finally, in December of 2018, BATL Scottsdale opened to the public, bringing axe throwing to the Valley of the Sun. The Phoenix greater area now as the ability to experience the unique thrill provided by axe throwing, and we’re excited to begin to grow the sport. Recently, BATL Houston and BATL Orlando opened in 2019.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT BATL HOUSTON
League Play: It’s no secret that the foundations of BATL Axe Throwing start with our axe throwing leagues. Thousands strong we show the power of being good to each other, using the axe as a tool to build community inspired by our backyard roots. BATL Houston will be no exception. Our axe throwing leagues run for 8 weeks, completely under the guidance of our resident axe gurus. Each season consists of round-robin style tournament play, where you’ll throw 28 games against other people in the league, culminating in a top 16 double elimination playoff on week 8.
Our leagues are suitable for people of all skill levels, with staff on hand at all times ready to give you tips and tricks to make sure that you’re hitting the bullseye. League play falls under the International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF) umbrella, the world’s foremost governing body of the sport of axe throwing (of which BATL Axe Throwing is a founding member). Being part of the IATF also gives you access to the most advanced statistic tracking in the sport of urban axe throwing.
BATL Casual: If you’re looking for a casual way to get involved with the sport of axe throwing, all BATL Axe Throwing venues offer public walk-in sessions (no reservations required) every weekend during set times. It’s the perfect way to test the water when it comes to axe throwing, with little commitment. Our expert coaches are on hand to guide you the whole way, so whether you’re new to the sport or looking to hone in on your skill BATL Houston has you covered.
BATL Premium: BATL Houston offers private event bookings lasting 1.5 hours for groups of 6 and up. You’ll get the full experience that BATL Axe Throwing has become world-famous for: the best one on one instruction from our skilled and friendly staff members, followed by a round-robin style tournament, single-elimination playoff, and big axe practice – all orchestrated by our staff, leaving you with nothing to do but throw axes and enjoy the company of your guests. These parties are perfectly suited to any adult gatherings (bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team building, adult birthdays, or even just a night out with friends) and BATL Houston offers complete bar and food services, which means even less planning for you.
Stop by BATL Houston and experience first hand the unique thrill of axe throwing, and stay tuned for more news on BATL Axe Throwing’s expansion in Texas this coming year!
