Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Definite-lived Intangibles) (Details)

v2.4.0.8
LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Definite-lived Intangibles) (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     $ 1,189,702,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (465,239,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     724,463,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     51,399,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     (3,861,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     (1,354,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (4,522,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (62,973,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     (21,311,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense 42,900,000 40,800,000 (124,451,000) 136,400,000
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     61,000  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     744,000  
Accumulated amortization - Other     64,904,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     (58,742,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 1,168,391,000   1,168,391,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (523,981,000)   (523,981,000)  
Net - End of period 644,410,000   644,410,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     8 years  
Impairment related to definite-lived intangible assets       13,800,000
Additional amortization expense due to change in estimate 3,800,000   9,000,000  
Amortization expense related to nonrecoupable ticketing contract advances 18,800,000 12,800,000 42,700,000 31,500,000
Revenue-generating contracts [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     515,071,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (197,549,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     317,522,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     22,573,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     (1,028,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (43,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (15,419,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     6,083,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (36,018,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     260,000  
Accumulated amortization - Other     15,419,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     (20,339,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 521,154,000   521,154,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (217,888,000)   (217,888,000)  
Net - End of period 303,266,000   303,266,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     7 years  
Client/vendor relationships [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     261,655,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (39,807,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     221,848,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     4,820,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     (2,833,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     (1,354,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (4,805,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (1,771,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     (5,943,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (34,088,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     61,000  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     776,000  
Accumulated amortization - Other     1,771,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     (31,480,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 255,712,000   255,712,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (71,287,000)   (71,287,000)  
Net - End of period 184,425,000   184,425,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     8 years  
Non-compete agreements [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     168,418,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (111,369,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     57,049,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     33,000  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (18,157,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     (18,124,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (16,745,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (30,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Other     18,908,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     2,133,000  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 150,294,000   150,294,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (109,236,000)   (109,236,000)  
Net - End of period 41,058,000   41,058,000  
Venue management and leaseholds [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     118,259,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (51,891,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     66,368,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (251,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (25,000,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     (25,251,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (16,310,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     165,000  
Accumulated amortization - Other     25,000,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     8,855,000  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 93,008,000   93,008,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (43,036,000)   (43,036,000)  
Net - End of period 49,972,000   49,972,000  
Technology [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     101,424,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (53,295,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     48,129,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     2,806,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     453,000  
Gross carrying amount - Other     0 [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     3,259,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (17,687,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (355,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Other     0 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     (18,042,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 104,683,000   104,683,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (71,337,000)   (71,337,000)  
Net - End of period 33,346,000   33,346,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     3 years  
Trademarks and naming rights [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     18,423,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (6,678,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     11,745,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     21,200,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     125,000  
Gross carrying amount - Other     405,000 [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     21,730,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (3,247,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (103,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Other     775,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     (2,575,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 40,153,000   40,153,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (9,253,000)   (9,253,000)  
Net - End of period 30,900,000   30,900,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     10 years  
Other [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [Roll Forward]        
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period     6,452,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period     (4,650,000)  
Net - Beginning of period     1,802,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - current year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions - prior year     0  
Gross carrying amount - Dispositions     0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (34,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Other     (3,031,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - Change     (3,065,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization expense     (356,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Dispositions     0  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     31,000  
Accumulated amortization - Other     3,031,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - Change     2,706,000  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 3,387,000   3,387,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (1,944,000)   (1,944,000)  
Net - End of period $ 1,443,000   $ 1,443,000  
[1] Other includes a reclassification from indefinite-lived intangible assets due to a change in the asset’s estimated useful life and netdowns of fully amortized or impaired assets.