The gleaming new 25,000 seater venue held an open day on Saturday a day after the new Johnathan Thurston statue was unveiled outside the ground and everyone wanted a selfie with JT.

Of course rugby league legend Thurston was one of those calling for the new stadium in his post-2015 premiership speech and he was there on Saturday, calling it a world class stadium.

"Every time I see it, it gives me goosebumps " Thurston said.

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Jeff Riebel was also impressed by the venue and was looking forward to the club playing there.

"This will be our home for the foreseeable future," Mr Riebel said."This is important not just for the Cowboys but for North Queensland as a whole".

Elton John will be the first major test of the venue on February 29 but what North Queensland was really looking forward to was the first home game in the Queensland derby versus Brisbane Broncos on Friday March 13.

Mr Riebel said that while the new stadium had the same capacity as the old one, it was a different style of stadium.

The stadium was built with $193m from the Queensland Government and $100m from the Federal Government.

"This shows what can happen when governments of all level work together," Senator Susan McDonald said.

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