Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk made a surprise appearance at a city council committee Tuesday to argue the city should move forward with his plan to build a multi-million dollar soccer stadium in Kanata.

"The stadium will help to continue placing our city on the world stage, bolster our regional economy, drive tourism and remind everyone why Ottawa is Canada's capital," Melnyk told city officials Tuesday morning.

Ottawa is currently one of four cities in the running for a Major League Soccer franchise.

However, Melnyk's bid to bring MLS to the capital is conditional on the city approving his plan to build a $110-million soccer stadium and entertainment complex near Scotiabank Place.

That plan calls for the federal and provincial governments to pick up two-thirds of the cost to build the complex. The remaining third would be covered by the city and Senator Sports and Entertainment.

"I am prepared to personally invest over $50 million to bring an MLS team to Ottawa," said Melnyk.

"Hockey is Canada's game. But soccer is truly the world's game. With the exception of the Stanley Cup, I want nothing more than to bring the world to Ottawa," he said.

Councillors, though, have lots to consider as they look over Melnyk's bid.

The city is also in the midst of examining a plan to build a new sports stadium at Lansdowne Park, which would bring CFL back to the capital.

That bid, spearheaded by Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt, would transform Lansdowne Park into what developers call a "people place." It includes plans for a sports and entertainment stadium, a refurbished arena, an aquarium, exhibition space, an amphitheatre, formal gardens and ponds, shopping, a home for the Farmer's Market and a new hotel.

Coun. Rainer Bloess said if the city decides to move forward with building a new stadium in Kanata, the city would still have to deal with the decaying Lansdowne Park

"The issue is what to do with Lansdowne Park. It's a liability to us. It's draining money from the city every year and we need to turn that around," Bloess said.

City council is poised to make a final decision on the stadium debate on March 25.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley