Following an initial bid in late 2017, the team was first announced by the National Independent Soccer Association on October 23, 2018 with plans to begin play in the inaugural 2019–20 season.

[1][2] Originally referred to in league press releases simply as "Charlotte", the name Stumptown Athletic was officially unveiled in June 2019.

[4] The team was originally owned by Christopher Clarke of Atlanta, a lawyer specializing in wealth management, and Casey Carr, a former college soccer player with the DePaul Blue Demons and an entrepreneur based out of Mecklenburg County.

[6] In August, Stumptown announced former Jamaica national football team player Michael Binns and Jared Odenbeck as their first signings.

Unable to find a new buyer, the league itself took over ownership and operations of the team under a new logo and the revised name Stumptown AC on March 3, 2021.