The Thermal Club, a private road course in Southern California, is making significant strides in its preparations to host the return of the NTT IndyCar Series for a full championship event in 2025. After hosting pre-season testing and a non-points exhibition in 2023 and 2024, respectively, the facility is set to expand its offerings and welcome a larger audience for the highly anticipated Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix.

Unlocking the Potential of Thermal Club's IndyCar Venture

Strengthening the Partnership with IndyCar

The Thermal Club has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with IndyCar, with the series' leadership team, led by Jay Frye, providing valuable guidance and support. "IndyCar has been great to deal with and work with, so they've been really helpful with Jay Frye and his whole team," said Thermal GM Nicholas Rhoades. This strong partnership has been instrumental in the club's preparations, ensuring a smooth transition as they gear up to host a full-fledged IndyCar event.

Expanding the Spectator Experience

One of the key focuses for the Thermal Club is enhancing the spectator experience for the upcoming IndyCar Grand Prix. The facility plans to significantly increase the number of general admission tickets available, targeting the sale of 5,000 tickets, which could be priced at $450 each for the Friday-Sunday event. This would allow the club to generate over $2 million in revenue, helping to cover the sanction fee paid to Penske Entertainment and other event-specific operating costs.

Optimizing the Viewing Experience

The Thermal Club is also making improvements to the spectator viewing areas, with plans to add more grandstands in the Turn 15-17 complex. This strategic placement will provide fans with the opportunity to see the cars go by multiple times, offering a more immersive and engaging experience. "We're going to have more grandstands in that area, so there's better viewing because you can see the cars go by four or five times there. It's not just seeing them go by once like most tracks, so the fan experience will be better," Rhoades explained.

Lessons Learned from the Non-Points Challenge

The Thermal Club's first venture into professional racing, the non-points $1 Million Challenge, provided valuable insights that the team is now applying to the upcoming IndyCar Grand Prix. The event saw the introduction of network television coverage and the opening of the facility's gates to fans for the first time, with a maximum of 2,000 tickets made available. While the initial $2,000 price tag deterred many, a 75% price drop to $500 per ticket helped boost sales in the weeks leading up to the event.

Refining the Hospitality Offerings

In addition to the improvements to the spectator experience, the Thermal Club is also focusing on enhancing its hospitality offerings. The team is planning to move the hospitality areas closer to the spectator zones, providing a more integrated and immersive experience for those seeking a more exclusive setting. "We're going to have a little bit different hospitality; it's going to be a little closer to where all the spectators are," Rhoades revealed.

Addressing Feedback and Adapting

The Thermal Club has also taken note of the feedback received from the previous non-points event, particularly regarding the meme-generating podium that was widely criticized by IndyCar teams. "We tried something a little different, and it didn't seem to work very well on TV," Rhoades acknowledged. The team is now working closely with IndyCar to develop a more suitable and well-received podium setup for the upcoming Grand Prix.As the Thermal Club continues to refine its plans and address the lessons learned from its initial foray into IndyCar, the stage is set for a thrilling and memorable debut of the Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix in 2025. With a focus on enhancing the spectator experience, optimizing the viewing areas, and delivering a top-notch hospitality offering, the Thermal Club is poised to make a lasting impression on both the IndyCar community and motorsports enthusiasts alike.