The Big Smoke. Hog Town. The 6.
Call it what you will, the City of Toronto is nothing less than a thriving hub of creativity and culture. “Toronto” is Huron Indian for “meeting place,” a word which aptly describes one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, with over 100 different cultures represented in its population of over 2.5 million.
With Lake Ontario to the south, Kawartha Lakes to the east, the Niagara Escarpment to the west, and Lake Simcoe to the north – it’s no wonder this “city within a park” is full of luscious scenery. Not only is Toronto the biggest city in Canada, but also the 4th most populous city in North America. The diversity can be seen at the city’s many festivals, friendly neighbourhoods, and of course, its 9,000 restaurants.
With a vibrant culture scene like this, it’s no surprise that Toronto is home to the birth of urban axe throwing as we know it today.
THE HISTORY OF BATL AXE THROWING
BATL Axe Throwing pioneered the sport of urban axe throwing back in 2006, so it’s no surprise that we’re known across the world as the best at what we do. It all started with 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 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.
BATL AXE THROWING IN TORONTO
Since opening our first indoor venue in Toronto in 2009, BATL Toronto axe throwing has been a go-to destination for thousands of visitors and locals alike.
With a Toronto East location servicing downtown Toronto and the Portlands, A Toronto North location serving North York and Markham, and venue opening in the Stock Yards District in West Torontoslated to open next month there are no shortage of opportunities to throw an axe with us from anywhere in Toronto and the surrounding area. It didn’t take long before BATL branched out to 18 locations across North America including Pickering, Ottawa, London, Kitchener, Niagara Falls, Calgary, Nashville, Novi (Detroit), Chicago, Houston, and Scottsdale– offering the best axe throwing experience available in the world. From our humble beginnings back in 2006, The Backyard Axe Throwing League has quickly grown into not only a community favourite but also a top destination within the city for a night out with friends or colleagues.
AXE THROWING LEAGUES AT BATL TORONTO
BATL Toronto’s 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 National Axe Throwing Federation (NATF) umbrella, the worlds foremost governing body of the sport of axe throwing (of which BATL is a founding member). Being part of the NATF also gives you access to the most advanced statistic tracking in the sport of urban axe throwing. Our weekly axe throwing league play is what made us famous, but each of our 15 locations across North America offers other ways to get involved with axe throwing on a more casual basis.
PUBLIC WALK-IN AXE THROWING SESSIONS
Looking for a casual way to get involved with the sport of axe throwing? BATL Toronto offers public walk-in sessions (no reservations required) every weekend. 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 Axe Throwing has you covered.
PRIVATE AXE THROWING EVENT BOOKINGS
BATL Toronto offers private group bookings for groups of 2 and up, and are perfectly suited to adult birthday parties, corporate team building events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and much more. Our private events last 2-2.5 hours and are run in the safe and comfortable environment that BATL Axe Throwing has become famous for by our expertly trained staff, who also happen to be the best axe throwers in the planet. They will run you and your guests through training to ensure that you’re all sticking bullseyes before launching you into a round robin tournament, followed by a playoff (in order to crown a champion, of course). A little friendly competition is a key to any outing with friends, and BATL Toronto also offers a fully licensed bar and food menu – so you can worry about throwing axes and leave the rest to us!