Every group event planner ends up Googling some version of the same thing: “team building ideas that aren’t a trust fall,” “private event venue near me,” or “something to do with 20 people that isn’t a conference room.” If that’s how you got here, this is for you.
Whether you’re organizing a corporate team building day, a holiday party, a private party for a milestone, or just trying to get a big group of friends or coworkers to do something together that isn’t just dinner and drinks, axe throwing solves a problem most venues don’t: it gives a group of any size, any skill level, and any relationship to each other (coworkers, college friends, extended family) something to actually do together instead of just standing around a room.
Why Groups Choose Axe Throwing Over the Usual Options for Group Events
It doesn’t require teams to already know each other. Trust falls and forced icebreakers work best on groups that are already comfortable with each other — which defeats the purpose if the actual goal is breaking the ice. Axe throwing gives people something to focus on shoulder-to-shoulder, so conversation happens naturally instead of being forced.
Nobody has a built-in advantage. Unlike bowling or golf, almost nobody in the group has thrown an axe before, which flattens the playing field between the most and least “athletic” people in the room — a real problem with a lot of standard team building activities.
It scales from 6 people to 200+. A small private party and a full company holiday event look completely different, and the venue needs to handle both. In Orlando, that means up to 16 lanes and 96 people throwing at once, with room for 200+ total guests when you count people playing games, eating, or hanging out at the bar. In New Rochelle, it’s up to 10 lanes and 60 people throwing at once, with events that have hosted 100+ guests total.
There’s a real bar and real food, not vending machines. Both locations can build a package around catering (pizza, BBQ, hibachi, full buffets — whatever fits the group), drink tickets or a bar tab.
Axe Throwing vs. the Other Options on Every “Team Building Ideas” List
If you’ve already read one of the big roundup posts, you’ve seen axe throwing sitting next to escape rooms, bowling, trivia, driving ranges, and paint nights. Here’s the honest comparison for a group event, not just a sales pitch:
- Vs. escape rooms: Escape rooms usually cap out around 6–10 people per room, so a group of 20+ gets split into separate rooms that never actually interact. Axe throwing scales as one shared event — 96 people throwing at once in Orlando, 60 in New Rochelle — so the whole group stays together.
- Vs. bowling, mini golf or a driving range: Both reward people who already play those sports regularly, which re-creates the same “athletic people win” dynamic team building is supposed to avoid. Almost nobody has thrown an axe before, so skill starts at zero for everyone.
- Vs. trivia or paint nights: Great for groups that already know each other well, but they’re low-energy and easy to disengage from (people quietly check their phones during trivia in a way that’s much harder to do mid-throw). Axe throwing forces active participation by design.
- Vs. a standard bar or restaurant private room: You get the bar, but not the activity — people still have to make their own conversation. Bananas’ pairs the lane time with a real tiki bar on-site, so you get both instead of picking one.
None of this means axe throwing is the right call for every group — a team that genuinely wants a low-key dinner should just book dinner. But for the specific problem most planners are trying to solve (get a mixed-skill, sometimes-awkward group of people to actually engage with each other), it solves it more directly than most of what’s on those lists.
What “Private Event” vs. “Team Building” vs. “Party” Actually Means Here
These terms get used almost interchangeably, but the planning details differ slightly:
- Private events typically mean you’ve got the whole venue, or a large block of it, reserved just for your group — no walk-in guests sharing lanes. This is the right call for anything over about 15–20 people, or any group that wants a coach’s full attention.
- Team building usually adds a more structured layer on top of a private event — a coach running actual games and challenges (Bananas’ has more than 20 built-in games beyond standard bullseye throwing) instead of just open throwing time, aimed at getting a group to actually interact rather than just take turns.
- Parties (birthdays, retirements, graduations, “just because”) tend to be more open-format — throwing, drinks, food, and letting the group set its own pace. If you’re specifically planning a birthday, we’ve got a dedicated guide for Orlando and New Rochelle with more detail on that.
None of these are mutually exclusive — most corporate holiday parties are technically a “private event” with a “team building” structure and a “party” atmosphere all at once.
How to Actually Plan a Group Event
1. Get your headcount first. This determines everything else — how many lanes you need, whether you need the full venue, and what package makes sense. Orlando comfortably handles up to 96 throwing at once (200+ total guests); New Rochelle handles up to 60 throwing at once (100+ total guests).
2. Decide how structured you want it. A hands-off group might just want lane time and a bar tab. A group that needs an actual icebreaker should ask about the structured team building add-ons and built-in games — this is where a coach makes the difference between “we threw some axes” and “we actually did something together.”
3. Sort out food and drinks in the same conversation. Both locations can fold catering and drink packages into one group event package, priced per person per hour, so you’re not juggling separate vendors on top of the venue.
4. Book early for evenings and weekends. Corporate holiday season and weekend evening slots fill up fastest at both locations — if you already have a date in mind, lock it in rather than assuming there’s room the week of.
5. Check the fine print before you book. Groups of 10 or more have a mandatory 20% service charge (covers staff gratuities and admin fees) at both locations — worth knowing when you’re budgeting, not when the invoice arrives. Full details are in the Orlando FAQ and New Rochelle FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need axe throwing experience to book a group event? No. Every group gets basic instruction from a coach before throwing starts, regardless of group size or event type — this isn’t a “figure it out yourself” activity.
What’s the biggest group you can host? Orlando can host 200+ total guests (96 throwing at once across 16 lanes). New Rochelle can host 100+ total guests (60 throwing at once across 10 lanes).
Can you cater our event? Yes, both locations offer catering packages — everything from pizza and wings to full buffets, hibachi, and BBQ — plus drink tickets or a running bar tab.
Is there a minimum group size for a private event? Private events generally make sense starting around 10 people, since smaller groups can usually get what they need from standard lane bookings. Call your location directly to confirm what works for your headcount.
How far in advance should we book? As early as possible for weekend evenings and the holiday season — both locations regularly book out months ahead for those slots.
Is axe throwing better than an escape room for a big group? For groups over about 12–15 people, generally yes — most escape rooms cap out at 6–10 people per room, splitting a large group up, while axe throwing scales to 96 people throwing at once in Orlando (60 in New Rochelle) as one shared event.
Do you offer anything close to Disney and Universal for a corporate outing? Yes — the Orlando location is at 8462 Palm Parkway, a few minutes from Disney Springs and within 20 minutes of most Disney and Universal hotels, making it an easy add-on for conferences or events already happening in that part of Orlando.
Book Your Group Event
Orlando — 8462 Palm Parkway, a few minutes from Disney Springs. Call (407) 951-1148 to check availability, or see the full Orlando team building and Orlando private events details.
New Rochelle — Call (914) 278-9355 to check availability, or see the full New Rochelle team building and New Rochelle private events details.
Want a look at the space first? Check out the Orlando gallery or New Rochelle gallery before you call.