Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010	May 12, 2010 The Nets [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Brooklyn Basket Holding [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Brooklyn Basket Holding [Member]
Balance Sheet:
Current assets					$ 12,271	$ 15,955
Non-current assets					227,155	223,112
Total Assets	8,007,518	6,320,153			239,426	239,067
Current liabilities					110,028	126,457
Non-current liabilities					107,151	123,809
Members' equity (deficit)					22,247	(11,199)
Total Liabilities and Members' Equity (Deficit)	8,007,518	6,320,153			239,426	239,067
Operations:
Revenues	1,051,766	916,942	818,875		31,601	54,593
Operating expenses	(668,959)	(647,199)	(664,988)		(54,246)	(93,765)
Interest expense	(261,037)	(309,766)	(342,859)		(7,981)	(13,906)
Depreciation and amortization	(218,601)	(234,728)	(256,606)		(3,476)	(7,999)
Net loss (pre-tax)	(33,523)	(856)	(60,639)		(34,102)	(61,077)
Company's portion of net loss (pre-tax)	$ (110,387)	$ 199,482	$ (2,529)			$ (26,814)
Percentage of the Nets acquired by MP Entities				80.00%