Is New York City FC’s stay at Yankee Stadium really an insult to soccer?

Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten, from the Battery to the top of Manhattan, New York City FC has long searched for a permanent home within the five boroughs, but has so far struggled to make it happen.

Since joining Major League Soccer in 2015, NYC FC has played the majority of its home games in the Bronx-based Yankee Stadium, home to Major League Baseball’s Yankees whose owners, Yankee Global Enterprises, also have a 20% stake in the soccer club. It was supposed to be a temporary measure while NYC FC worked on finding a site for a permanent, soccer-specific home, but eight seasons later the club is still there, playing on a baseball field.

And it’s still seen as a stopgap. The search continues for a site to develop a new facility, but there have been roadblocks at every turn. Many see the situation as an embarrassment for the club, and indeed, MLS. But many NYC FC fans genuinely enjoy elements of the Yankee Stadium experience, especially the supporters’ sections.

Related: The days of Lampard and Pirlo have gone for NYC FC. And the team is better than ever

The Guardian spoke to a number of NYC FC fans, online and in person, who are keen on Yankee Stadium. For many, it’s simply easier to get to than other venues where the team has played – Yankee Stadium can be reached on a number of subway lines and is near the Metro North line for fans coming into the city. And the fact that the team has now been in the area for a number of years, means many of its most loyal fans live nearby (the Bronx also has the highest proportion of Hispanic people among New York’s five boroughs, a demographic with a strong soccer following). Moving to another venue would mean a longer journey for many of the club’s fans.

Citi Field, the