Responding to the Rams' plans to play games in London, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission said today the team is required by its lease to play all home games at the Edward Jones Dome.
"We immediately brought this to the Rams' attention and are awaiting their response," the commission, which manages the Dome, said in a statement.
The Rams announced last week that they would play one home game during each of the next three years in London, where owner Stan Kroenke also owns the Arsenal soccer club. The Rams are slated to play the New England Patriots this year in London's Wembley Stadium.
The commission acknowledged that the Rams playing overseas would "elevate an awareness of St. Louis on the global stage." But it added, "Our lease with the Rams requires that the Rams play all their home games in the Edward Jones Dome."
CVC President Kathleen "Kitty" Ratcliffe was unavailable for comment today. A commission spokeswoman, Donna Andrews, said she couldn't offer any additional details.
A section of the the Rams' lease at the Dome calls for the team "to play all its home NFL Games (other than pre-season NFL Games) at the Facilities." The Rams can disregard this rule if the Dome is not in useable condition or if the lease is terminated, according to that section of the lease.
The planned home games in London would be a financial boost for the Rams. NFL teams that have played in London have been guaranteed ticket revenue equivalent to a sellout, plus expenses.
Wembley Stadium seats 82,000, while the Dome seats 66,000. And while general admission tickets at the Dome ranged from $25 to $160 this season, prices for the Rams-Patriots game at Wembley range from $70 to $155.
The CVC's stance on the London games comes on the cusp of negotiations with the Rams about the condition of the Dome. The Rams can opt out of the lease by 2015 if the Dome is not a "first tier" NFL stadium. The CVC must deliver a plan to the Rams by Wednesday explaining how the Dome can be refurbished to meet that standard. That will trigger a series of negotiation deadlines in 2012. The lease, however, does not offer a clear-cut definition of what constitutes "first tier."