As D.C. United looks to its own stadium, Philadelphia's team provides a template That's giraffe abuse, sir! James yelled at the top of his lungs. "I didn't like "em in "Madagascar"; I didn't like "em in "The Hangover." Sir, I hate giraffes! No one even gave James a second glance. In the Sons of Ben section at the Union's PPL Park, anything goes. And James would know. A founder of the raucous group of fans, he was among the proud Philadelphia area soccer devotees who lobbied for the team before it even existed. Now, the Sons of Ben, and thousands of more sedate spectators, have a team to root for and a stadium of their own to watch their team in. Most fans and many residents of the area herald PPL Park as a gem among soccer-specific stadiums, while others say the park has not done enough to help the downtrodden city, outside of Philadelphia. As Washington looks to replace RFK Stadium with a new soccer-only park on Buzzard Point, the Union's three-year-old stadium can serve as a model for what an intimate, waterfront stadium in a neglected part of town might do for professional soccer in D.C. Fans agree on PPL Park's most obvious highlights: an expansive view of the Delaware River, real grass turf, seats close to the action, and clean, new facilities. Ask almost anyone in the stadium on game night what he or she likes about the place, and you'll get the same answer, almost word for word: There's not a bad seat in the house. With 18,500 seats, nobody sits more than 30 rows up from the field. PPL Park - the closest to Washington geographically in Major League Soccer - is cozy compared with RFK's more than 45,000 seats, which are usually two-thirds empty when D.C. United plays. D.C. United will play the Union at PPL Park on Saturday. For the more sophisticated fans, PPL's hidden hallmarks go far beyond just the number of seats. Even their color is evidence of good stadium design, James said. "Union fans wear navy blue, and the seats are navy blue," he said. Despite the fact that attendance is great, it's not shocking to the eye when it's not good. I think every little bit matters. As D.C. United plans for a new stadium, James said, "I don't think they can have too many focus groups." At PPL Park, some come for the spectacle that happens in the stands, not on the field. Led by a dynamic drummer, the Sons of Ben stay on their feet throughout every game to hurl obscenities at the opposing team, wave their matching blue scarves and sing songs with naughty lyrics to the tune of standbys like "Oh My Darling, Clementine" and "Camptown Races." "Their dedication and their loyalty are unbelievable," said Jeff Green, an usher who has worked at the stadium since it opened. Katie Barksdale got an abrupt introduction to the heart of Philadelphia soccer fandom. Never one to watch a soccer game, she started dating Andrew Klein, a member of the Sons of Ben, and found herself standing, at her first game, in the center of the 2,000-strong cheering section. When the game ended with just one goal scored, she thought to herself, "All right, one thing happened."