A new kind of sports "arena" is coming to Phoenix, one that involves axes, targets and beer.
Pennsylvania-based Urban Axes announced Tuesday its plans to open a 9,000-square-foot ax-throwing venue and bar within the Warehouse District in downtown Phoenix.
It will be located at 401 S. First Street, a half-mile south of Talking Stick Resort Arena near First and Buchanan streets.
Krista Paton, one of Urban Axes co-founders, said the company was looking to expand the brand out West and found a fit in Phoenix.
"We just found a really good property in a great area of town," she said in an interview with ABC15. "It's just a good city so we wanted to go there."
The indoor venue in Phoenix will have a total of 24 throwing lanes (each "arena" contains four targets). It will also have a bar that will serve wine and beer. No hard alcohol will be served.
It will also be an adults-only concept. No one under 21 will be allowed inside at any time, Paton said. It is scheduled to open during the summer of 2019
Earlier this year, Lumberjaxes, another ax-throwing concept, opened in Tempe. No one under 18 is allowed inside their venue.
Competitive ax throwing is a popular sport in Canada and has been making its way through the United States over the last few years. The National Axe Throwing Federation was formed in 2016, and there is the National Axe Throwing Championship in Toronto, Canada.
The throwing lanes are narrow, similar to bowling, and divided by chain-link fencing. The targets look similar to dart boards; each features three colored rings that represent different point values.
Groups will be able to reserve sessions online when it opens. Sessions typically last 2.5 hours and include one-on-one training and practice throwing with coaches, according to the Urban Axes website. Everyone will take turns throwing the axes in a round robin fashion.
While they are still finalizing pricing for the Phoenix location, group sessions typically cost between $35-$40 per person, said Paton.
Walk-in rates for smaller groups typically cost $20 per person for an hour session, she said.
In terms of safety, coaches stay with groups during their entire session. They also have safety lines in each arena. Those who may have indulged too much at the bar will not be allowed into the throwing lanes.
