The Thermal Club, a luxury private road course in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, is revving up its engines as it prepares to host the return of the NTT IndyCar Series for a full championship event in 2025. After dipping its toes with a non-points exhibition race earlier this year, the club is making strides to ensure that the upcoming Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix will be bigger and better, with key changes based on valuable feedback from 2024’s debut.
In 2023, IndyCar first visited Thermal for pre-season testing, and the inaugural 2024 $1 Million Challenge marked a major milestone for the club, as it opened its gates to the public for the first time. However, the attendance for this exclusive event—initially priced at $2000 per ticket—fell short of expectations. A last-minute price slash to $500 per ticket attracted a modest crowd, with daily attendance in the low hundreds.
Now, with those lessons in the rearview mirror, Thermal is shifting gears. General admission tickets for the 2025 event will start at a more accessible level, with plans to sell 5,000 tickets, a sharp increase from 2024’s numbers. According to Thermal General Manager Nicholas Rhoades, this target is aimed at enhancing the fan experience while maintaining a manageable crowd. “We want the experience to be better for everybody. But we don’t want to bring in too many people and not be able to deliver,” he said.
Fans can expect improved spectator areas, with expanded grandstands overlooking the complex of Turns 15-17, where they’ll have better sightlines to watch the cars in action multiple times per lap. “It’s not just seeing them go by once like most tracks,” said Rhoades. “The fan experience will be better.”
Additionally, access to the paddock and food trucks—both popular features at the 2024 event—will return. Higher-tier ticket options, offering more exclusive settings for spectators, will also be available for those looking to elevate their race weekend experience.
While much of the 2024 infrastructure will return, one thing that won’t make a comeback is the controversial podium that sparked memes and criticism across social media. Rhoades acknowledged the feedback, joking, “We tried something a little different, and it didn’t seem to work very well on TV. We’re working with IndyCar on doing something different.”
As the partnership between IndyCar and The Thermal Club strengthens, the 2025 event is shaping up to be a landmark moment for the series, with a balance of exclusivity and accessibility for fans. With IndyCar’s proven collaboration, the facility is set to deliver a unique racing experience that caters to both the high-end clientele of the club and passionate racing fans eager for top-tier motorsport action.
