Da Silva, founder of the Wise Up ESL program, joined the club's ownership group on February 17, 2013.

Steve Donner left the Titans club after the 2010 NLL season to focus on the soccer effort.

Rawlins announced that the Aztex organization would remain intact in Orlando, Adrian Heath would be retained as manager, and most of the team's players would return.

They also faced BK Häcken of the Swedish Allsvenskan before a series of matches against local colleges Rollins, UCF, Stetson and USF.

In 2012, Orlando City repeated as Regular Season champions, but exited the playoffs in the semifinals with a 4–3 loss to Wilmington Hammerheads.

On October 25, 2010, Phil Rawlins and his investor group of the club, announced their intentions of joining Major League Soccer within the next 3 to 5 years.

[10] On February 28, 2011, Orlando City announced it met with commissioner Don Garber and league officials concerning expansion.

Rawlins said to make that happen, the league had asked the team to explore building a 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium.

“They didn’t say we had to have a stadium built before we could join, but they at least would like a plan that it’s happening.”[14] The team's ownership continued to work on a Major League Soccer expansion bid for several years.

[2] Orlando City's USL Pro license was acquired by minority owner Wayne Estopinal in June 2014.

The team became Orlando City's USL Pro affiliate, with James O'Connor becoming that club's manager.

The logo was unveiled during local morning news on Orlando TV station WOFL at 7:00am EST on December 16, 2010, and was launched at 10:00am with the team's website.

On February 15, 2013, the team announced that Fifth Third Bank had purchased naming rights for the stadium for Orlando City matches.

Due to the Citrus Bowl refurbishments, the team played the 2014 season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The team has a legacy that includes several current and past Major League Soccer players and won the PDL Championship in 2004.

When the club moved into ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex, the supporters were criticized for the obscene language used in some of their chants.

[24] In response, the club "indefinitely suspended" both the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm, pending their agreement to a new Fan Code of Conduct.

[25] One week after the St. Petersburg incident, members of the Iron Lion Firm were ejected from a home game after profane language was chanted in their section.

Two regular season home games also appeared nationally on FOX Soccer Channel as part of USL Pro's broadcasting contract.