"The Rams cannot play "home" games more than 4,000 miles away in London under the terms of its lease here, the public agency that runs the Edwards Jones Dome said Friday.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission contends that the Rams' plan to play one home game at London's Wembley Stadium each year for the next three seasons would violate the team's 30-year lease of the Dome.

That lease is under increased scrutiny, as the CVC tries to figure how to close an escape clause that could let the Rams skip town after the 2014 season.

A section of the lease 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 usable condition or if the lease has been terminated, according to that section of the lease.

Wednesday is the deadline for the CVC to present the Rams with a detailed plan for improving the Dome — to satisfy the lease's requirement that it be a "first tier" stadium, or one that's in the top 25 percent of all National Football League venues.

The Rams announced last week that the team would play in London, starting with a game this year against the New England Patriots. All the games would be classified as Rams' home games, meaning the team would get a higher percentage of ticket receipts than the "visiting" NFL teams in the London games.

The games 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."