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 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     94,824,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     4,412,000  
Gross carrying amount - other     (64,845,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     34,391,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense (40,800,000) (38,800,000) (136,391,000) (120,700,000)
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (2,701,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     65,679,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (73,413,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 1,330,209,000   1,330,209,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (495,519,000)   (495,519,000)  
Net - End of period 834,690,000   834,690,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     9 years  
Impairment related to definite-lived intangible assets     13,800,000  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets 40,800,000 38,800,000 136,391,000 120,700,000
Amortization expense related to nonrecoupable ticketing contract advances 12,800,000 9,300,000 31,500,000 22,800,000
Revenue-generating contracts [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     21,353,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     3,205,000  
Gross carrying amount - other     (39,219,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     (14,661,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (51,140,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (2,094,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     39,301,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (13,933,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 527,765,000   527,765,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (184,822,000)   (184,822,000)  
Net - End of period 342,943,000   342,943,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     12 years  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     51,140,000  
Client/vendor relationships [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     67,043,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (501,000)  
Gross carrying amount - other     (9,073,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     57,469,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (38,721,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (23,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     9,073,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (29,671,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 388,044,000   388,044,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (96,219,000)   (96,219,000)  
Net - End of period 291,825,000   291,825,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     9 years  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     38,721,000  
Non-compete agreements [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     3,000,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (7,000)  
Gross carrying amount - other     (4,197,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     (1,204,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (19,254,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (1,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     4,949,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (14,306,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 170,561,000   170,561,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (107,770,000)   (107,770,000)  
Net - End of period 62,791,000   62,791,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     3 years  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     19,254,000  
Venue management and leaseholds [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     1,450,000  
Gross carrying amount - other     0 [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     1,450,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (9,046,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (455,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     0 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (9,501,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 118,222,000   118,222,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (48,518,000)   (48,518,000)  
Net - End of period 69,704,000   69,704,000  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     9,046,000  
Technology [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     (2,336,000)  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     (107,000)  
Gross carrying amount - other     0 [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     (2,443,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (15,881,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     13,000  
Accumulated amortization - other     0 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (15,868,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 100,894,000   100,894,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (47,680,000)   (47,680,000)  
Net - End of period 53,214,000   53,214,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     6 years  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     15,881,000  
Trademarks and naming rights [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     5,764,000  
Gross carrying amount - Foreign exchange     334,000  
Gross carrying amount - other     (12,356,000) [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     (6,258,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (2,012,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (113,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     12,356,000 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     10,231,000  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 18,259,000   18,259,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (5,971,000)   (5,971,000)  
Net - End of period 12,288,000   12,288,000  
Weighted-average lives of definite-lived intangible assets     10 years  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     2,012,000  
Other [Member]
        
Finite-lived Intangibles Asset [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     38,000  
Gross carrying amount - other     0 [1]  
Gross carrying amount - change     38,000  
Accumulated amortization - Amortization Expense     (337,000)  
Accumulated amortization - Foreign exchange     (28,000)  
Accumulated amortization - other     0 [1]  
Accumulated amortization - change     (365,000)  
Gross carrying amount - End of period 6,464,000   6,464,000  
Accumulated amortization - End of period (4,539,000)   (4,539,000)  
Net - End of period 1,925,000   1,925,000  
Amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets     $ 337,000  
[1] Other includes netdowns of fully amortized or impaired assets.