Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

v2.4.0.6
LONG-LIVED ASSETS, Definite-lived Intangibles (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period $ 1,295,818,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (422,106,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 873,712,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 7,939,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 7,366,000  
Total gross carrying amount 15,305,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (39,933,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (2,937,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (42,870,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 1,311,123,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (464,976,000)  
Net - End of period 846,147,000  
Additions, weighted average life (years) 13  
Total amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets 39,900,000 41,000,000
Amortization expense related to nonrecoupable ticketing contract advances 10,800,000 7,500,000
Revenue-generating contracts [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 542,426,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (170,889,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 371,537,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 8,688,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 4,976,000  
Total gross carrying amount 13,664,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (14,569,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (2,396,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (16,965,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 556,090,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (187,854,000)  
Net - End of period 368,236,000  
Additions, weighted average life (years) 15  
Non-compete agreements [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 171,765,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (93,464,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 78,301,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 171,000  
Total gross carrying amount 171,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (6,614,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange 146,000  
Total accumulated amortization (6,468,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 171,936,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (99,932,000)  
Net - End of period 72,004,000  
Venue management and leaseholds [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 116,772,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (39,017,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 77,755,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 1,281,000  
Total gross carrying amount 1,281,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (2,192,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (312,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (2,504,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 118,053,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (41,521,000)  
Net - End of period 76,532,000  
Technology [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 103,337,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (31,812,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 71,525,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions (2,586,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 596,000  
Total gross carrying amount (1,990,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (5,260,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (176,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (5,436,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 101,347,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (37,248,000)  
Net - End of period 64,099,000  
Additions, weighted average life (years) 7  
Trademarks and naming rights [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 24,517,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (16,202,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 8,315,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 306,000  
Total gross carrying amount 306,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (579,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (177,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (756,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 24,823,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (16,958,000)  
Net - End of period 7,865,000  
Client/vendor relationships [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 330,575,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (66,548,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 264,027,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 1,837,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 11,000  
Total gross carrying amount 1,848,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (10,607,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (7,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (10,614,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 332,423,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (77,162,000)  
Net - End of period 255,261,000  
Additions, weighted average life (years) 7  
Other [Member]
    
Definite-lived Intangibles [Roll Forward]    
Gross carrying amount - Beginning of period 6,426,000  
Accumulated amortization - Beginning of period (4,174,000)  
Net - Beginning of period 2,252,000  
Gross carrying amount - Acquisitions 0  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange 25,000  
Total gross carrying amount 25,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (112,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange (15,000)  
Total accumulated amortization (127,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 6,451,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (4,301,000)  
Net - End of period $ 2,150,000