Queensland overcame bids from South Australia and Western Australia to win the right to host the 2020 AFL grand final.
It will be a major boost for the sport in rugby league-mad Queensland after the NRL refused to allow its grand final to be played outside Sydney.
The decision has upset the two other AFL-loving states but Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the move.
"I want to thank the AFL, and especially the game's fans in Victoria, for trusting Queensland with their most important event," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we are determined to give everyone a grand final they'll never forget."
Brisbane's famous Gabba cricket and AFL ground will host the final on October 24.
More than 30,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium under COVID-safe plans that have allowed the season to progress safely in Queensland.
It's the first time a grand final will be held outside Victoria in 123 years.
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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the AFL looked forward to working with the Queensland government in taking the game to as many people across the state as possible.
"This has been a season like no other," he said. "Queensland welcomed our game and we look forward to now working with the government to successfully stage the biggest event on the AFL calendar and share it with the community.
"This is a really exciting opportunity for our code to take our biggest game to new audiences across Queensland and to also provide a lasting legacy for future generations."
The decision caused fury in the west, with federal MP Matt Keogh telling Channel 7 the showpiece event should not have gone to Queensland.
Mr Keogh called the AFL's decision a travesty and declared the league was always looking for a way to "screw over" WA.
"It is an absolute travesty that the AFL once again is abiding by its first rule which is always finding a way to do over Western Australia by sending the grand final to Queensland. It's not even a football state," Keogh said.
"How on earth do you overlook Western Australia with all of the lack of restrictions, all of the capacity to fill into that stadium?
Ms Palaszczuk said the decision was recognition of the hard work Queenslanders had done to slow the spread of the global pandemic.
"It's an economic boost for our state but this year's season has also offered an opportunity to grow new fans for the game," she said.
"Rather than marking the end of a very difficult year, I hope it marks the beginning of a whole new era."
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said few industries had been as hard hit by COVID-19 as Queensland's tourism and events businesses, usually booked solid through the cold southern winter.
"This is so much more than a game of footy, this is a chance to show Australia exactly what Queensland offers when it comes to being not only an events destination, but a tourist destination.
"While the successful staging of the grand final and the Brownlow Medal will be our focus, we will also use this opportunity to highlight Queensland's tourism offering to encourage those who can travel to visit, and to help those who currently can't come to start dreaming about their next holiday when restrictions ease."
