We have extra space because attendances have dwindled solidly since the peak either side of the 2nd World War. The reasons for that are many including the ability to access almost every live game played in the world via subscriptions or naughty streams, other pastimes (I know a few friends who held season tickets and gave them up for golf memberships), lack of sporting contest (OF flip flop winning the league), changes in working patterns away from the traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday, the club not engaging with kids in those pivotal years where you could have them for life, not feeling it is value for money, etc. the list goes on and on.
We had 36,000 at Hampden in 1991, 18,000 in 2011. Nothing to do with it being all seater, we could have had an even split with The Unwashed if the demand was there, which is wasn't.
The best atmosphere at FP is when you're tooth by jowl, thinking of Odense, Parathanakios, Nancy, Rangers play-off. Yes the club can be responsible for lack of outreach, engagement with lapsed regulars, incentives, etc. But anyone who still attends FP knows a handful of friends, family or acquaintances that have drifted. How many of us can hold our hands up and say they've cajoled, convinced or berated any of them to return?
Easy way to get punters engaged and return ..... impending doom (admin/relegation) or success (cup run). However both are temporary and don't address the underlying trend. Mediocrity unfortunately equals apathy and for a club of our resources that is the datum albeit outwith the OF and maybe Aberdeen our league record in the past 20 years can't be eclipsed by anyone else, including Hearts and Hibs.
As for the Cooper, I can't fathom how you'd have the space of a two tiered stand from the touchline to the wall that surrounds the Cooper now. Unless you do a Easter Road and have some odd shapes cutting about at the back of the second tier.
A compact stadium taking the best bits of Tynecastle and Aaelsund's is what we'd look to aspire to in time. Won't be happening for 10 years due to the recent upgrades unless one of us wins Euromillions or remembers they bought 20,000 Bitcoin for £40 in 2009.