I have concerns over the rail seat positioning.
I'm one of those fans who has been in and around the singing at Everton for a large number of years. It is of course a minority interest, probably less than 1% of our fan base get involved in starting off songs and generating the atmosphere.
Through doing this I do see the little things that help the atmosphere in a different way to others. My interest makes me pick up on how other clubs generate it too and what problems and successes they have, and how their ticketing and stadium influences or deters it.
I do find that a small congregation of singers stood in the same block is how it starts, with a few different fans starting them off. The immediate surrounding area joins in, then the area around joins in with them, albeit less frequently.
So transferring this to a stadium, you need standing, and you need that small block to be in a position where they feel comfortable in starting songs off, and they need their songs immediately amplified.
At BM then, the rail seats are in the front half. Of that you will need one area of one block to be where noisy ones congregate. Now this is a small number of fans, double figures, who will generate it. They are a great distance from the roof, so their noise will not travel. Also, situated in the middle of a stand, you're in full view of everyone, it therefore takes more to let yourself go a bit. It's not like the back of a stand where it's a touch darker, no one over looking you, it's just easier to start songs off back there and to join in.
What will happen then is that at the front you need greater participation of fans for the atmosphere to work. To do this, one way is the football on the pitch, they play well, the fans react, same as any stadium.
So a realistic expectation at BM, is the front half stood, quiet in the main, back half sat. Singing after a chance, on the verge of a great win yes good then.
For some, that's fine, however for those who want more singing throughout the game, the only other option at the front is through an organised Ultra group with megaphones used to transfer the songs. An ultra group is not my personal preferred way, but it could be others. Unless an alternative solution is found then yes, even if it is just to annoy people into an alternative.
To my mind, an extra rail seat area is needed, one situated at the very back, it doesn't have to be a massive area, but this would be mainly for fans at the aways who congregate in the concourses at half time to bounce around together in. They would be the ones who would be getting the noise and their coach songs generated for others to feed off.
There is no restriction on stand rake for rail seats and it is 1 to 1. It is the safe standing areas (the terrace type) that have gradient restrictions.
I have asked Everton, they said no, so either have a moan to the club, or get yourself a Drumkit/earplugs.