National Hockey League (NHL) franchise Ottawa Senators is lining up a move to a new downtown arena in the Canadian capital.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) last year invited bids for the rejuvenation of the underdeveloped LeBreton Flats in the heart of Ottawa – and two groups have now met the deadline and submitted their proposals for redevelopment works.

According to the NCC – which administers the federally owned lands and buildings in the National Capital Region – both of the proposals include plans for an indoor arena as part of a mixed-use residential and commercial district.

The two groups to have put plans forward to the NCC are DCDLS (formerly called Devcore Group) and Rendez Vous LeBreton Group – a joint venture group which includes Senators Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Ottawa Senators.

In the past, the Senators have publicly identified LeBreton as the ideal spot for a new home. The team has played at the 18,700-capacity Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata – around 10m (15km) from downtown Ottawa – since 1996.

The owners have long coveted a new arena in a more central location in the hope of accessing a larger fan base from areas east and north of the city.

National Capital Commission (NCC) will now take time to study both proposals, before launching a public consultation on 26 January when further details are expected to be revealed.