The City of Santa Ana scheduled retrofitting of the stadium to begin on January 4, 2016 and end on April 30, 2016 but work was not completed until August 2016.

[10][11] On Friday, January 13, 1989 Club América of the Mexican Primera División, now Liga MX, defeated FC Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga at Santa Ana Stadium in front of 11,500 in attendance.

[14] In 2014, Orange County Blues FC of the United Soccer League played an international exhibition game at Santa Ana Stadium against Atlético Marte of El Salvador.

[19][20][21] On October 25, 2015, UPSL team "Ozzy's Laguna FC," which formed the PDL side "LA Laguna FC," lost a US Open Cup qualifying match against So Cal Premier League side Real Sociedad in penalty kicks at East Los Angeles College thus losing the opportunity to host a US Open Cup match at Santa Ana Stadium.

Former pro boxer Oscar De la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions presented a boxing card at Santa Ana Stadium on September 18, 2003, which was shown on HBO.

[26] A Santa Ana fan group sprouted on social media to attract LAFC to the Santa Ana Stadium site, given its proximity to downtown amenities minutes away on foot, but Major League Soccer through investors involved with LAFC, and with the help of park operator USC, opted on building at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, a site that was identified for years by MLS as a top priority.

There were proposals to bring back Los Angeles Aztecs and the California Surf, (formerly owned by Henry Segerstrom, developer of South Coast Plaza), this time to Santa Ana Stadium.

On January 21, 2016 writer Dave Martinez of Empire of Soccer quoted NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson concerning west coast expansion as saying, "We will start making announcements as early as four weeks or as long as eight weeks … At least one market … could be more.” The rumor that Gordon Summer, aka "Sting," was involved with an NASL club in Orange County turned out false.

Joe Sumner went on to launch a club called City of Angels FC that played one season in the National Premier Soccer League.