DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas has officially named the Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium, honoring the life, legacy, and North Texas connection of a national leader whose influence helped shape the growth of professional sports in the United States.

A 1960 honors graduate of North Texas State University, Norma Knobel Hunt was a distinguished student leader whose academic excellence and curiosity defined her time on campus. She went on to become a lifelong champion of soccer, supporting the sport's growth nationally through the North American Soccer League and later Major League Soccer, including FC Dallas. Known for her genuine love of the game, Norma was a familiar and enthusiastic presence at matches and a trusted advocate for the communities soccer brings together.

"This naming reflects the very best of what it means to be a North Texas graduate," said UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. "Norma carried forward the values shaped during her time at the university — leadership, generosity and a belief in opportunity — and applied them in ways that left a lasting mark on the game of soccer and the people around her. We are proud to honor her legacy in a way that connects our campus, our student-athletes, and the future of the sport."

Norma began her professional life as an American history teacher in Richardson, Texas, bringing her love of learning and leadership into the classroom. A proud alumna of North Texas State University and former president of the Chi Omega sorority, she maintained a lifelong connection to UNT, mentoring students and supporting generations of young women as they pursued education, leadership, and opportunity. After marrying Lamar Hunt in 1964, she continued to shape and support the growth of professional sports in the United States. Above all, Norma took greatest pride in her family, serving as a devoted mother and grandmother and their most loyal supporter — present, encouraging, and deeply engaged.

"Norma Hunt's influence on soccer was rooted in authenticity," said Jared Mosely, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "She believed in the game, believed in the people who played it and believed in what sport can make possible. Naming our stadium in her honor is a meaningful way to celebrate that spirit and to inspire the student-athletes who will compete here for generations to come."

The university will formally recognize the naming of Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium during a campus event on March 25, 2026, celebrating her North Texas roots and the enduring impact of her legacy.

"Our family is deeply honored by the University of North Texas naming its soccer stadium for our mother," said Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas. "She believed in the power of sports to bring people together, and we strive to bring her same joy, grace, and generosity to our work throughout the North Texas community. Before she was our mother, she was a teacher, and I know that she would be thrilled to support the University in its mission to help young people reach their full potential."

"Mom loved soccer, in fact she was the original soccer mom. And she loved the people who made the game special – the players, the fans, and the community that is built around the pitch," said Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas. "Seeing her name on this stadium will be incredibly special for our family. She would be so proud, and she would absolutely be sitting in the stands cheering on the Mean Green."

Located on the UNT campus in Denton, Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium serves as home to Mean Green Soccer and the UNT Track & Field program, standing as a shared stage for student-athletes whose commitment, discipline, and love of sport reflect the values Norma carried throughout her life.