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Hub Stadium, an Auburn Hills bar that features ax-throwing lanes, had its liquor license and permits suspended by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for one day this month.
Drinking alcohol while throwing axes, ax-throwers wearing open-toed shoes, a lack of monitoring by bar management and axes ricocheting off targets in the direction of participants were among the concerns listed by Michigan Liquor Control Commission investigators who visited the warehouse-style bar at 2550 Innovation Drive in Auburn Hills.
The commission one-day suspension was issued in order to develop new safety procedures and precautions at the suburban Detroit establishment.
"A licensed establishment that allows alcohol-consuming patrons to throw potentially injurious and even deadly weapons posed significant concern," said the state office of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) in a statement issued Tuesday, Sept. 25. "While the (Michigan Liquor Control Commission) does not regulate ax throwing or any other sport - and it is not contrary to the law for sporting activities to take place in liquor licensed establishments - once the results of the investigation showed that a significant threat to the public health existed at this establishment, the (Michigan Liquor Control Commission) ordered the hearing."
The one-day suspension was served on Sept. 10.
Bar management told the Michigan Liquor Control Commission they "had implemented some changes and would continue to implement others," according to LARA.
Exactly what changes were implemented to alleviate the concerns weren't revealed by LARA or the Liquor Control Commission in Tuesday's statement.
In addition to ax-throwing, Hub Stadium features two bars, a dance-entertainment permit, craft beer and cocktails, food and "bombowling," better known in the Detroit area as "fowling," a bowling-football hybrid sport that involves competitors throwing footballs at bowling pins.
The following are additional concerns noted by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission after reviewing videos on Stadium Hub's social media platforms: