HUNTSVILLE – The area soon will gain a new professional sports team.

The North Alabama War Dawgs and the North Alabama Diva Dawgs will hold tryouts in August at Jemison High School in Huntsville. The first games are scheduled for fall 2019.

The team is affiliated with the American Basketball Association or ABA, the largest professional sports league in the United States. Team owners are Christopher Burge and Timothy Jones.

Tryout dates for the men’s team will be Aug. 9-10. The Diva Dawgs Dance Team hopefuls will report for tryouts on Aug. 17-18. Jemison High School will host all tryouts.

Co-owner Chris Burge said selecting Huntsville was an easy decision. “The great work of the mayor and the city (have created) a stable economical foundation for the city to grow on. We just hope to deliver a great experience to the people of North Alabama.”

“We thought that it would be a good idea to host at the Jemison facility because it’s new and gives us the opportunity to make a real difference for the community,” Burge said.

A player himself, Burge owns other professional sports teams. He enjoys creating jobs for people in professional sports and improving people’s lives, according to a War Dawgs release.

Also a co-owner, Jones retired from the U.S. Navy. “I want to do something special for my hometown of Gadsden. When this opportunity was presented to me, I had to reserve the Huntsville market for an ABA team,” Jones said.

In Huntsville, Jones said he and Burge want to create “a stage for professional athletes to showcase their talent and giving local businesses a great marketing platform. For our own infrastructure, we plan to add internships and jobs for student and people in the area.”

The owners see their venture as a platform for local artists to display their talent of music, dance and more. They plan to honor veterans, active and reserve military personnel, police officers, volunteer responders and local heroes.

“So now Huntsville will not only have the Havoc and the Trash Pandas but now home of the War Dawgs,” Jones said.

To register, visit wardawgsbball.com and click the graphic at center right for War Dawgs or Diva Dawgs.

For more information, email timothyjones.owner@wardawgsbball.com.