Bad Omens London Contest: Your Chance to See the Band Abroad

In what might be one of the most ambitious concert giveaways of the year, Los Angeles rock station KROQ is offering fans an extraordinary opportunity: not just tickets to see metalcore sensation Bad Omens at home, but a chance to follow the band all the way to London for a sold-out show at the historic Alexandra Palace.

The sweepstakes, which runs through the end of October, represents a significant evolution in how radio stations are engaging with audiences in an era where streaming services and social media have transformed music discovery. It's also a testament to Bad Omens' meteoric rise in the alternative music scene.

A Two-Tiered Prize Package That Spans Continents

According to contest details published by KROQ, the promotion operates on two distinct levels, each designed to maximize fan engagement and reward listener loyalty.

The first tier offers immediate gratification. Throughout the contest week—running from October 27 through October 31, 2025—up to twenty listeners who successfully connect with the station will receive a pair of tickets to see Bad Omens at the Kia Forum on March 26, 2026. Each prize package is valued at approximately $100, courtesy of Live Nation, the concert industry's largest promoter.

But here's where things get interesting: all twenty of those winners automatically qualify for the grand prize drawing. One lucky listener will be selected to receive round-trip coach airfare for two from Los Angeles to London, a three-night hotel stay in the British capital, and two tickets to Bad Omens' sold-out performance at Alexandra Palace on November 26, 2025.

The total value of the grand prize package? A substantial $4,000, courtesy of Sumerian Records, the band's label.

The Logistics of an International Prize

Winning an international trip through a radio contest sounds like a dream scenario, but it comes with practical considerations that participants should understand before entering.

The grand prize winner will be selected on or around November 3, 2025, and will have just 72 hours to respond to notification and complete all required paperwork. This compressed timeline isn't arbitrary—it reflects the realities of coordinating international travel less than three weeks before departure.

Winners and their guests must obtain all necessary international travel documents independently. This means ensuring passports are current and valid for at least six months beyond the travel date, a standard requirement for international travel. For Americans who don't regularly travel abroad, this could mean expediting passport renewals or applications, which can take several weeks even with rush processing.

What's Covered and What's Not

While the prize package covers the major expenses—airfare, accommodation, and concert tickets—contestants should be aware that several costs remain the winner's responsibility. Ground transportation in London, meals, incidentals, and personal expenses all fall outside the prize package. Additionally, winners will need to provide a valid credit card at hotel check-in for incidental charges, a standard practice at most hotels worldwide.

The hotel stay is structured with check-in on November 25 and check-out on November 28, providing winners with a comfortable buffer around the November 26 concert date. This schedule allows time to adjust to the eight-hour time difference and potentially explore London before the show.

Bad Omens: From Underground to Arena Status

The scale of this contest reflects Bad Omens' current trajectory in the alternative music world. The fact that their Alexandra Palace show is already sold out—months in advance—speaks volumes about the band's dedicated international following.

For context, Alexandra Palace, affectionately known as "Ally Pally" by Londoners, is a historic entertainment venue that has hosted everyone from the BBC to major touring acts. Its capacity of around 10,000 for music events makes this a significant booking for any alternative rock band, particularly one that emerged from the underground metalcore scene.

The venue's inclusion in this prize package transforms the contest from a simple ticket giveaway into a genuine bucket-list experience for dedicated fans. Alexandra Palace's Victorian architecture and North London hilltop location offer a concert experience distinctly different from typical American arena shows.

How Radio Contests Are Evolving

KROQ's Bad Omens promotion represents a broader trend in radio promotion strategy. As terrestrial radio competes with streaming services and podcasts for listener attention, stations are creating increasingly elaborate prize packages that offer experiences rather than just products.

The contest's structure—multiple smaller prizes leading to one grand prize—maximizes engagement throughout the promotional period. Twenty winners means twenty different on-air moments of excitement, twenty different social media posts from happy listeners, and sustained buzz throughout the contest week.

Moreover, by connecting a local show (the March 2026 Kia Forum date) with an international experience (the November 2025 London show), KROQ creates multiple touchpoints for audience engagement spanning several months.

Entering the Contest: What You Need to Know

For Southern California residents interested in participating, the mechanics are straightforward but require vigilance. Listeners must tune in to KROQ weekdays between approximately 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM Pacific Time during the contest week. When the on-air personality gives the cue to call, contestants must dial (800) 520-1067.

The key word here is "correct caller"—typically meaning a specific caller number (caller seven, caller nine, etc.) as announced before the cue. This isn't a random drawing; it's a traditional radio contest requiring quick reflexes and a bit of luck with phone line timing.

Important Considerations

Standard contest eligibility rules apply, and participants should review KROQ's general contest rules before entering. Additionally, the contest includes provisions addressing COVID-19 and pandemic-related concerns, requiring winners and guests to comply with any vaccination, testing, or safety requirements imposed by venues, airlines, or governmental authorities.

Perhaps most critically, the contest rules specify that winners who refuse to comply with such requirements will forfeit their prizes without compensation or substitution. Given the international nature of the grand prize and the potential for evolving health requirements, this is a significant consideration for potential participants.

The Bigger Picture: Music, Travel, and Fan Experience

Beyond the mechanics of the contest itself, this promotion highlights how the music industry is increasingly thinking about fan experience in global terms. Bands like Bad Omens build international followings through streaming platforms and social media, creating demand that transcends geographic boundaries.

For fans, the opportunity to see a favorite band in a different country adds layers of meaning to the concert experience. It's not just about the performance itself, but about the journey, the cultural context, and the sense of participating in something larger than a typical Saturday night show.

This contest acknowledges that reality, treating the concert not as an isolated event but as a destination worthy of international travel. In doing so, it elevates both the band and the fan experience, creating memories that extend far beyond the final encore.

Final Thoughts

KROQ's Bad Omens contest represents more than just a promotional giveaway—it's a snapshot of how music, radio, and fan engagement are evolving in the streaming era. By offering both local accessibility through multiple smaller prizes and aspirational experiences through the London grand prize, the station has created a promotion that works on multiple levels.

For Bad Omens fans in Southern California, the contest offers a low-barrier opportunity to see the band locally with an outside chance at an international adventure. For the radio industry, it demonstrates how traditional media can still create compelling, unique experiences that digital platforms can't easily replicate.

Whether you're calling in for the Kia Forum tickets or dreaming of that London trip, the contest runs through October 31, 2025. In an era where music often feels infinitely accessible yet somehow less special, promotions like this remind us that sometimes the best experiences are worth waiting—and competing—for.