What does an evening of bowling in Albertville cost? At Alleyway Entertainment, the answer depends on when you arrive. A lane costs $35 an hour on Thursday night and $45 an hour on Saturday. The building, the 20 lanes and the snack bar menu are the same on both nights. The price difference comes from the posted rate schedule and a weekly lineup of specials that rewards early-week visits.
Alleyway opened its doors on June 20 and held a ribbon-cutting with the Albertville Chamber of Commerce and the City of Albertville on Wednesday, June 24. The 30,000-square-foot building at 100 Mathis Mill Road, behind Jack's, holds bowling, axe throwing, bumper cars, an arcade, a laser maze, sports simulators, party rooms and a food court with a bar. Construction began on June 4, 2025. After three months of operation, the pricing has a clear pattern that's useful to know before you plan a family night or a birthday.
Friday at 5 p.m. Is Where the Price Changes
Alleyway's posted bowling rates have only two tiers. From Sunday through Thursday, and on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a lane is $35 an hour. From Friday at 5 p.m. through midnight, and all day Saturday, it's $45 an hour. Both rates cover up to six people per lane.
The other activities don't change price on weekends. Axe throwing is listed at $45 per lane per hour, and the golf simulators are $50 per bay per hour. Those are the regular prices. The weeknight specials cut them.
A Different Discount Every Weeknight
Alleyway's Specials page assigns a deal to almost every day of the week. Here's how each one compares to the regular rate:
| Day | Posted special | Regular posted price |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Half-price arcade games all day | Full arcade pricing |
| Tuesday | Axe throwing at $30 per lane per hour | $45 per lane per hour |
| Wednesday | Golf simulators at $30 per bay per hour | $50 per bay per hour |
| Thursday | Bowling at $3.50 per person per game, shoes included | $35 per lane per hour |
| Friday | Chicken Finger Friday plate for $8.99 | Weekend lane rate starts at 5 p.m. |
| Sunday | Sport Shot Sunday at $35 per person, 30 spots | Standard lane rates |
The Wednesday simulator discount saves $20 on each hour in a bay. Tuesday's axe throwing rate is a third lower than the regular price. Both flyers say reservations are highly recommended. On the Tuesday flyer, the minimum age is 12. A parent has to be in the throwing area for ages 12 to 15, a parent signs the waiver for ages 16 and 17, and throwers 18 and older sign their own. Closed-toe shoes are required.
Sport Shot Sunday is a different kind of offer. It isn't a discount on casual bowling. It's $35 per person for one of 30 spots, with practice on 10 lanes set to five different professional and sport bowling patterns from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's aimed at bowlers who want to practice on harder lane conditions.
When the Thursday Special Saves Money
Three-Fifty Thursday charges per person per game, while the regular rate charges per lane per hour. Your group size decides which one costs less.
- Four bowlers, two games each. On Thursday that's eight games at $3.50, or $28, and shoes are included. A lane at the regular weeknight rate is $35 an hour.
- Six bowlers, two games each. That's 12 games, or $42 on the Thursday special. The same six people on one lane at the $35 hourly rate pay less, as long as they finish their games within the hour.
- The same group on Saturday. A full lane costs $45 an hour, so a family that can move its outing from Saturday night to Thursday saves at least $10 on each lane-hour.
One detail is missing from the posted information. The rate sheet doesn't say whether shoes are included with the hourly lane rate, so the Thursday special's shoe inclusion may make it a better deal than the math above shows. Ask when you book.
Parties and Groups Cost a Set Price Per Person
Birthday packages don't change by day of the week, so their cost depends on headcount. The packages posted on Alleyway's site are:
- Bowling birthday, $169.99. This covers the birthday child plus nine guests: two hours total, 90 minutes of bowling, shoes, party-room time, pizza, fountain drinks, a snack bar discount, a gift and a host. Extra guests are $12.99 each.
- Arcade birthday, $169.99. This covers the same 10 kids, with arcade cards, laser maze and Valo Arena time, party-room time, pizza, drinks, a snack bar discount, a gift and a host. Extra guests are $12.99 each.
- Bowling plus arcade, $249.99. This covers 10 participants with both activities, shoes, party-room time, pizza, drinks, arcade cards, a discount, a gift and a host. Extra guests are $18.99 each.
- Group bowling, $11 per person. The minimum is 10 people. Each person gets two games and shoes, and the group gets 20% off snack bar food and drinks. Groups have to reserve ahead.
Per guest, either $169.99 package costs about $17 for each of the first 10 kids, and each extra child costs $12.99. That means a party of 14 costs less per child than a party of 10. The booking rules matter as much as the prices. A non-refundable $80 deposit holds the date. The final guest count is due 48 hours ahead. A birthday cake or cupcakes can come with a birthday package, but no other outside food or drinks are allowed.
At the ribbon-cutting, owner Don Spurlin described the kind of use he hopes the building gets:
"We are grateful for everybody who has walked through the door, and our hope is that this will be a place where people laugh together, have a good time together."
What the Kitchen Serves
Since no outside food is allowed at parties, the menu becomes part of the budget for most visits. Friday's $8.99 plate is three of Scott's hand-battered chicken tenders and three hand-cut, hand-battered potato wedges. The rest of the menu includes an 8-ounce BBQ-bacon burger, a smash burger, bone-in or boneless wings with sauces, chicken fingers, Boom Boom shrimp, a Philly cheesesteak and a footlong corn dog. For groups sharing a lane, there's a Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese and queso, pork cracklins, chips and queso, Texas bites, fry samplers and southwest egg rolls, plus pizzas, kids' meals and desserts.
The group bowling package's 20% snack bar discount applies to this whole menu. That makes it the strongest deal for a team outing or a church youth night of 10 people or more.
How the Name and the Lanes Tie to Marshall County
Alleyway takes its name from "Alleyway," a 1970s song by the Marshall County band WARM, and from the Albertville music shop named Alleyway Records that followed it. Spurlin thanked his business partner, Bill Kellen, at the ribbon-cutting. Spurlin said Kellen "didn't give up on Albertville" even while living in Wyoming and then New Mexico.
The lanes also have a school connection. WAFF reported in June 2026 that Alleyway would be home to a new Albertville High School bowling team. City leaders told the station they wanted local young people to have more reasons to spend their time and money in Albertville instead of driving to Huntsville. No public schedule for fall adult leagues was available as of late September 2026, so contact Alleyway directly if you're looking for league play.
Fitting Alleyway Into an October Weekend
The pricing also helps with planning around Albertville's October calendar, which fills several weekends. Dwight Yoakam is listed at Sand Mountain Amphitheater, 700 SMPA Blvd., on Friday, October 16. The amphitheater also lists a gun and knife show on October 17, a free Revival Night on October 18, and a scholarship pageant and car show on October 24. The Sand Mountain Park Fall Festival runs Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 109 Solitude Ave.
On a festival Saturday, every lane is billed at the $45 weekend rate all day. Families who want both a festival morning and a bowling afternoon will pay that rate. Families who can move bowling to the following Thursday pay per game.
Before you go, check the hours. The schedule on Alleyway's website is still labeled "Summer Hours": 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The specials and prices don't list an end date. Call 256-388-8200 to confirm fall hours and current pricing before you load up the car.
Trenten Hammond follows what opens across Albertville and Marshall County, from the new businesses on Mathis Mill Road to the events at Sand Mountain Park. If you'd like to talk about how Albertville is growing around your street, Let's Connect.
