Built and opened in 1940, the Nanaimo Civic Arena originally had seating accommodation for 2,000. The capacity was later reduced to 1,600 when the benches at the top were removed.

In November 1939, Nanaimo Council agreed to fund $100,000 for a new downtown arena. Construction began in January 1940 and was completed five months later. The Civic Arena officially opened on May 15, 1940, with a gala ceremony. Lynn Patrick of the New York Rangers attended the event and said, “This arena is the finest of its size I have ever seen.”

The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey team was the first team to play out of Civic Arena. They debuted for the 1940-41 BCHL season.
The Clippers won the Coy Cup in 1941 and 1942.....their only championships.

The Nanaimo Buccaneers Hockey team also played there.

It was also home to Lacrosse teams - Nanaimo Native Sons, IWA Timbermen, Nanaimo Timbermen, Nanaimo Labatts.

On September 23, 1986. In a preseason game, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 6-5 at Nanaimo Civic Arena.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Nanaimo in 1951 during their Canadian Tour, and attended a public event at the Civic Arena.

The Civic Arena was heart and soul of Nanaimo, as every major or community event happened there.

The Civic Arena was demolished in 2006 for a condo development that never happened. There is a parking lot where the arena stood for Moffeo Sutton Park.