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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009	Aug. 31, 2007	Mar. 31, 2011 Principal Office Buildings [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Principal Office Buildings [Member]	Mar. 24, 2011 Principal Office Buildings [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Other Sale Leaseback Transactions [Member]
Future minimum lease commitments [Abstract]
2012 Operating Leases	$ 162,217,000
2013 Operating Leases	158,200,000
2014 Operating Leases	146,295,000
2015 Operating Leases	134,242,000
2016 Operating Leases	112,674,000
Thereafter Operating Leases	464,969,000
Total Operating Leases	1,178,597,000
2012 Capital Leases	9,395,000
2013 Capital Leases	8,922,000
2014 Capital Leases	7,937,000
2015 Capital Leases	7,248,000
2016 Capital Leases	5,199,000
Thereafter Capital Leases	2,467,000
Total Capital Leases	41,168,000
Imputed interest on capital leases	(4,656,000)
Net present value of lease obligations	36,512,000
Noncancelable sublease rental income	1,200,000
Rent expense	219,300,000	194,600,000	162,500,000
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale-leaseback, net	169,018,000	0	0					31,900,000
Lease terms of sale-leaseback					20 years, with four five-year renewal options
Initial annual rental payments on sale-leaseback						12,000,000
Annual percentage increase on sale-leaseback rental payments						2.00%
Deferred gain on sale-leaseback							27,500,000	14,200,000
Sale-leaseback gains recognized	2,221,000	1,705,000	1,715,000
Deferred gains on sale-leasebacks	31,288,000	5,560,000
Glendale, Arizona Sports Complex naming and sponsorship rights				5,800,000
Annual percentage increase for naming and sponsorship rights	3.00%
Remaining contractual obligation	122,300,000
Outstanding surety bonds	$ 55,700,000