Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Class A	Common Stock Class B	Common Stock Class C	Additional Paid in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		35,938	173,624	42,945
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 742,133	$ 36	$ 174	$ 43	$ 107,008	$ 1,602	$ 31	$ 633,239
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,950					671		3,279
Equity-based compensation expense	12,357				5,278			7,079
Issuance of Class A common stock upon settlement of restricted stock unit awards, net of shares withheld for tax (in shares)		129
Issuance of Class A common stock upon settlement of restricted stock unit awards, net of shares withheld for tax	(1,213)	$ 0			(1,213)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, before and after tax	331						48	283
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		36,067	173,624	42,945
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	757,558	$ 36	$ 174	$ 43	111,073	2,273	79	643,880
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		55,218	148,481	42,945
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	708,352	$ 55	$ 149	$ 43	140,191	2,693	79	565,142
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,671					700		2,971
Equity-based compensation expense	8,145				4,160			3,985
Issuance of Class A common stock upon settlement of restricted stock unit awards, net of shares withheld for tax (in shares)		463
Issuance of Class A common stock upon settlement of restricted stock unit awards, net of shares withheld for tax	(1,310)	$ 1			(2,016)
Issuance of Class A common stock upon settlement of restricted stock unit awards, net of shares withheld for tax								705
Dividends declared	(1,728)					(1,728)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(6,006)							(6,006)
Net deferred tax asset resulting from changes in outside basis difference on investment in Switch, Ltd.	(728)				(728)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, before and after tax	0
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		55,681	148,481	42,945
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 710,396	$ 56	$ 149	$ 43	$ 141,607	$ 1,665	$ 79	$ 566,797